JURY SYSTEM

Evening Star, Issue 18669, 25 June 1924, Page 1

JURY SYSTEM

IS IT A FAILURES Proposals for the abolition of tho jury system b»ve been advanced by some of the candidates seeking election to tlsc next Victorian Parliament, and a public discussion on the matter is now proceeding in Melbourne.

Mr Nicholson. Chief Commissioner of Police, said to-day Unit under the present system of juries it was impossible, to bring offenders to justice. A similar position had existed in -South Africa, where bribing and intimidatioa of jurors preserved the freedom of criminals and rendered cities dangerous for Jaw-abidin:r e.itizens.

This had led to the abandonment of the jury system, and -South Africa now administered justice per medium of a Bench of three judges. Tho result was that their cities wore now,, as .safe as any in the world, and there had been no" case reported of a miscarriage of justice.

Sir Arthur Robinson. lato_ Attorney - General, said it was not desirable in a British community to abolish the jury system in criminal cases. However, he considered tho requimneut of absolute unanimity, except in capital offences, was q u ito un necessary. A majority of ton-twelfths should he enough to convict, with tho certainty of justice being done, and at the same time providing a sufficient chock on tho activities of those who now approached jurors and attempted to square them.