SUPPRESSION OF NAMES

Evening Star, Issue 19045, 14 September 1925, Page 12

SUPPRESSION OF NAMES

A MAGISTRATE’S VIEW [Special to the ‘ Stab.’] CHRISTCHURCH September 12. The opinion that the suppression of publication of names of first offenders is justified in exceptional cases only was expressed by Ah - Wyvcrn Wilson, S.M., in an interview with a ‘Star’ reporter 10-day. “My view,” said Mr Wilson, “is that the power conferred on magistrates by the Offenders’ Probation Act, 1922, which is a power to prohibit the publication of the name or any first offender who is charged with an offence for ivhioh he is liable to imprisonment, should be exercised only in exceptional cases, and after the closest examination of all the circumstances. Personally, I rarely exercise the power, Ido so sometimes where the accused person is quite young, such as a person under twenty years of age, or thereabouts, or where the accused person is well advanced in years and has a clean record. J do not think the publication of names should be prohibited in order to avoid hurting tho feelings of relatives.. Again, there are exceptions to this view, as, for instance, when a relative is on a hod of sickness, and may be seriously affected on seeing the name in the paper. The fear of publication of wrongdoing is a very strong deterrent against crime, and in many instances where probation is granted publication of tho offender's name is the only penalty he suffers. I know nothing about the position in Auckland district, nor the practice of tho Bar or of the courts there with regard to this matter. I think it should be generally known that this is a power which is only available in criminal cases, and for first offences which are punishable by imprisonment. Tt does not apply to civil cases at all. T also think the Press should draw a distinction between an order prohibiting the publication of tho name of an accused person and a case where the court forbids under the provisions of section 15 of tho Evidence Act. 1908. Where such question has boon forbidden, any person who prints or publishes it is liable to be charged with contempt of court.”