THE JURY SYSTEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19391, 28 July 1926, Page 12

THE JURY SYSTEM.

UNSATISFACTORY FEATURES. OPINION OF CHIEF - JUSTICE[BY TELEGRAPH.---OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ; .' „•- " WELLINGTON. Tuesday. When dealing, with a bookmaking case in the Supreme Court to-day, the Chief Justice, the Hon. C. P. Skerrett, spoke of the unsatisfactory administration of the Act relating to bookmakers," and also of the unsatisfactory feature in the law which provided that a man could only be convicted on the unanimous verdict of twelve men sitting as a jury. " We all know," said His Honor, "that the administration of the Act has been very unsatisfactory, and is unsatisfactory, but" it will; be still more unsatisfactory if jurors are not going to do their duty. You, gentlemen, are just as much Judge? sitting here as- I am a .Judge sitting here. Indeed, you have much more important functions than I have. I am only here to point out the true light so that you can satisfy yourselves. Indeed it is most unsatisfactory in our law that no man can be convicted but by the unanimous verdict of twelve men, comprising a jury, and sitting judicially and endeavouring to do their duty."