SOCIAL PROGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 119, 16 November 1937, Page 14

SOCIAL PROGRESS

v *THE JURY SYSTEM

I The women who belong to the Social [Prepress Movement are wisely always looking for information on; subjects which should be well known to women but which; unfortunately >ar« rarely understood. . At the meeting of the Wadestpwn branch yesterday, Mrs. A. Down, M.A., LL.B., gave.an interesting address on "The Jury System," , and told thosa present many things they had*not understood l^ore. The "grand jury," she said, decided if there is enough evidence to put an accused person on trial, the number on this jury, tfting from twelve to twenty-three, of whom twelve must agree. Many people had advocated the abolition'of the grand jury, quite forgetting that the age ■ of-this institution justified its existerice. •■- For in* stance if the grand jury- returned fno bill" the country was, saved .the expense of a lengthy Supreme Court trial. ' ■■. ■ . . ;,' The common jury, was the one''that was best known. In the Magistrate's Court there was no jury/In'ciyil cases there was often no-jury; *or there might be. one of ..iour ; or, twelve, depending on the nature of the case or damages claimed. In criminal cases there were always twelve men in the jury, and in these cases all must agree, or they were discharged and a new jury called. Challenges can be made either of the whole body, or for "cause" when one or more might be objected to, for various good reasons, or a "peremptory" challenge, which was more often used, the former ones being very seldom made use of. Both sides in the latter could . give six challenges without reason, and the Crown could "stand aside" any number .of men—the fairness of 'this privilege having been called in ques* tion. . ' . The qualifications for the jury service in New Zealand stated that men between the. ages' of 21 and 60 might be called. They must not be undischarged bankrupts or of the Native race. Special provision was made for the latter in case of a Maori accused. There were many exemptions. These comprised Cabinet Ministers, members of both Houses of Parliament, State officials, such: as judges and magistrates, and Government employees generally, clergymen, schoolmasters, lawyers, doctors, dentists, firebrigadesmen, men disabled by weakness of mind or body, in fact the grounds of exemption were founded on convenience or expediency. ■ - The speaker then dealt with the treatment of jurors .during long.cases, or in cases of individual" illness, and the "retirement Of the • jury.1' She touched interestingly on the hard* ships which were deal} out in the old days in the way of discomforts from cold and insufficient light. Also jurors were severely dealt, ,with,. U they brought in a 'verdict ■ against' Crown. Mrs. Down- gave instances of hardships in the .old'days. : of fines and severity in a number of \ ways,,; and went on to tell of the better arrangements in more recent Itimes. She gave a number of other points 'tot women, and received * close ' attention and a cordial vote, of thanks. Mr.s.:'G. L.;:Stewart presided at the meeting. After the devotions had been led':by MissvM. McLean,- Miss Janet Atkinson ■ was /heard ,in pianoforte solos and Miss Mary; Stewart in vocal Items, accompanied by-Miss' Atkinson.