COURSE OF JUSTICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20640, 12 August 1930, Page 9

COURSE OF JUSTICE.

FAIRNESS IN APPLICATION. PRESERVATION OF TRADITIONS. [iiY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.} WANGANUI, Monday. In. his charge to the grand jury at the Wanganui Supreme Court to-day the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, said that the grand jury had a right to make a presentment in matters affecting the administration of justice. Ib was not usual nowadays, but still they had an undoubted right. " There is," said His Honor, " ono matter, upon which I do not invite a presentment, but to which I consider it my duty to draw attention. It must not bo assumed that what I say necessarily has referred to any case now before you, but I am led to make my remarks because there happens to be on tho list a case which, by reason of its somewhat sensational character, probably created at tho time a good deal of public interest, and because of a tendency on the part of the 'newspapers, perhaps not unusual in our changing conditions of life, to gjive publicity to cases of a sensational character, to an extent, or, what is more important, of a nature, that may not he in the best interests of justice. " Tho fairness of our administration of justice is one of our most cherished inherited traditions. Its creation and existence have been materially assisted by a free and independent press. I belierve that on the matter being brought under notice, as I am endeavouring now to bring it before its notice, the newspaper press will exercise caro and discretion in these sensational cases prior to tho actual trial of the alleged offender, nob from fear of punishment, but becanse of its desire to do nothing that may operate prejudicially to the fair administration of justice. The press will, I am sure, accept my observations in the spirit in which they aro spoken."