Judge Praises Press

Northern Advocate, 21 December 1942, Page 2

Judge Praises Press

IP.A.) AUCKLAND, This Day. A tribute to the Press for discretion in reporting court cases was paid by Judge Fair today when counsel sought an order prohibiting details in a case in which the court was required to decide the question of access to children of divorced couples. The Judge said the right of access to courts in the hearing of all actions unless there were substantial grounds for excluding the public and Press was a most important matter. He would always act on the rule that the public and Press were entitled to access except when their attendance would result in grave harm to individuals. “Auckland newspapers exercise wide and very laudable discretion in attempting to avoid publishing matter that would harm individuals or cause them pain or distress unless the interests of justice and the public require publication. So far as access to children is concerned, the Press would be exercising proper discredition if it refrained from publishing details.’'