TRIAL BY JURY.

Northern Advocate, 21 March 1921, Page 5

TRIAL BY JURY.

"AN ANTIQUATED LAW."

JUDGE SALMOND'S COMMENT

MASTERTON, This Day.

At the opening, of the Supreme iCourt session here, Mr Justice Sal mond presiding, Mr R. K. Jackson, on behalf of ithe Bar in Wairarapa, ex-, tended a welcome to His Honour, as this was his first visit. Mr Justice Salmond suitably acknowledged the welcome. Mr Justice Salmond congratulated the Grand Jury on the freedom of the district from serious cjrime', there being only two cases—one of obscene lenguage and one of obtaining money Toy means of valueless cheques. In regard to the obscene language case His Honour said the accused had the right of trial by jury, and had taken advantage of this privilege allowed by the The' law in this connec tion was an old one, and would now (be considered antiquated. It had ibeen framed in the days when the beqch was looked upon with suspicion, but nowadays magistrates stood high for their integrity and impartiality and determination that justice should be done. The resuilt of the old law that' day was to bring 23 grand jurymen and 12 common jurymen to court in connection with the case, in which he did not think a grand jury would have much difficulty in bringing in a true bill. He did not knotw but that the old law could be done away with, but that of course was for the Legislature to decide. However, the accused was quite within his fights in electing to have trial by jury. The grand jury, after brief retire-, ment, found time bills in the oases qf John Richards, obscene language, and Stanley Wallace Green,, false pretences.