CRIME AT AUCKLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 96, 20 October 1936, Page 11

CRIME AT AUCKLAND

SUPREME COURT CALENDAR

■'Wy Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day.

In his address to the Grand Jury at the crminal sessions of the Supreme Court today his Honour Mr. Justice Fair said that although the calendar was lighter than usual It included a number of serious charges, three of negligent driving so as to cause death, six relating to sexual offences, six of indecent assault, a charge against a woman of unlawfully using an instrument, and miscellaneous charges of theft, forgery, and breaking and entering. His Honour said that in each of three cases of forgery the amount involved was small. ' The Grand Jury might wonder why these should come, before the Supreme Court. In one case the amount was £3, in another £1 Is, and the third 6s. The cases were sent to the Supreme Court because the Magistrate had no power to do otherwise; If a.' prima facie case were made out "it seems desirable that the law should be amended," said his Honour, "to enable cases like these, where the amount is small, to'be dealt with, at the Police Court. This should be in cases where the amount is under £20."

His Honour added that- the jury might think that in one or more of these cases, where the accused had appeared before a Magistrate and publicity given, a conviction should not be entered.