COURT CASES

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 16, 18 July 1936, Page 6

COURT CASES

CRIMINAL AND CIVIL

JUSTICE STATISTICS FOR ; 1935

The number of criminal cases in Magistrates' Courts during 1935 (47,559) was a -little* higher than in 1934, the increase being 796, or 1.7 per cent., while the summary convictions (38,337) also show an increase of 1.7 per cent, over those for 1934, states the annual report on the Justice Department statistics. ' The -summary convictions for the year 1935 represent a rate of 24.46 per 1000 ot mean population, as compared with 24.32 in 1934, which was the lowest rate recorded in the last ten years.

The greater proportion of the cases* dealt with were in respect of somewhat insignificant offences, and a comparison of the figures for 1935 with those of 1934 shows that, during the year under review a slight reduction occurred in drunkenness, with a decrease of 78 convictions, while minor traffic offences increased by 720, and comprised 38 per cent, of the total convictions. Offences against property and breaches of the Unemployment Act show an increase of 370 and a decrease of 325 respectively.

The general statistics refer to all cases dealt with in Magistrates' Courts, including those in which a person is charged with two or more offences committed. simultaneously. If only the principal offence is counted in each instance, the number , of cases in' 1935 is reduced from 47,559 to 37,244, the latter representing an increase of 3.5 per cent, on 1934.

The total number of cases in which sentences . were passed upon persons brought before the Supreme Court .during 1935 shows a decrease of 65, or 5.4 per cent, from 1934. : The number of distinct persons sentenced in the Supreme Court during 1935 was 472, or 3.7 per cent, fewer than in 1934. Offences against property and forgery, etc., both show decreases in the number of distinct persons sentenced during the year, while offences against the person show a slight increase.

The civil figures for the Magistrates' Courts during 1935 show a slight increase in the number of> plaints entered and amount sued for, but decreases in the number of cases disposed of, amount claimed, and amount recovered. These three figures were lower in 1935 than any recorded during the last ten years. Civil actions in the Supreme Court show a' slight increase in numbers but decreases; in the amdunts claimed and recovered.