LEGAL REFORMS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXXI, Issue 70452, 1 October 1900, Page 2

LEGAL REFORMS.

A sensible measure is the Indiotable Summary Jurisdiction Amendment Bill, whioh has passed its committee stage in the Upper House, and whioh will in. all likelihood pass its third reading in a day or two. The Minister for Justice is responsible for the bill, which proposes to extend the jurisdiction of Stipendiary Magistrates, to enable them to deal summarily with such cases as attempted suicide, mischief to animals and property, false pretences, attempts to commit offences, etc. The limit of time for commencing the prosecution has been extended from six to twelve months, and, in case of offences against girls, the age is raised from 15 to 16 years. In the past attention has repeatedly been directed by Supreme and Distriot Court judges to the fact that the country has been put to great expense, and inconvenience caused to many, through 'Stipendiary Magistrates lacking the power to summarily deal with cases oftentimes of a mild, not to say trivial, nature. The bill under notice will have the effect of lightening the labours of the judges and jurors, and will prevent persons charged with certain offences being lodged in gaol for, in some instances, months, awaiting a trial which would end in their acquittal.