PROBATION OFFICERS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10563, 17 April 1928, Page 2

PROBATION OFFICERS

POLICEMEN 1 •IN COUNTRY. DISy. TRICTSi SOLICITOR’S PROTEST NOT UPHELD BP JUDGE if -—" • . _ (Special to the Times.) ■ ■ AUCKLAND, April 16. The wisdom of; policemen' in county districts acting as probation o - oers \yas questioned; by, Mr], J* «• livan during an address in. the supreme Court to-day on behalf ot awaiting sentence. In vie of the fact that- the -prisoner liaa never been before the Court previously, Mr Sullivan took exception to a, reference in the Probation Urficer’s report which described his client as being “a bad characte , generally fond, of drink and regarded as a bhd thief.”- , ', T “It could not he expected that u country districts ~ ;jsuch as W haicatane, where the cafite came from, a special officer should he appointed , observed Mr Justice Blair. ’ ‘Where the liberty of a person i y> concerned no l expense is too great ~ retorted Mr Sullivan. __ ' r) The . Crown Solicitor (Mr \ • KMeredith) described as ridiculous the suggestion that the police and tnc probation department should he separated in country. districts. An ex perienced police official was always appointed and policemen acting in that capacity hacl always, in -*li Meredith’s judgment, carried out their duties with the utmost rairliess. . .' “II must ' say with my j limited experience that. I have .ahvav» found police officers to he imbued with the keenest sense' of justice towards a prisoner, and they are always anxious to do all that may lie helpful” said His Honor.