SERVICE ON JURIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21638, 2 November 1933, Page 10

SERVICE ON JURIES

QUESTION OF EXEMPTION VIEWS OF CHIEF JUSTICE The obligation upon employers to assist as far as possible in granting facilities to their employees to serve on juries was stressed by the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, in the Supreme Court in Wellington, when an application was made by a City Council trafficinspector for exemption from jury service.

The inspector, who appeared in Court in uniform, said he wished to apply for exemption, and in suppori of his application handed up a letter to His Honor.

Upon reading this. His Honor remarked: "What will be the effect upon the service of the Traffic Department if you arc not there? W ill all the traffic have to stop, or what?" "Not necessarily, sir," replied the inspector, who explained that he was engaged in inspecting heavy traffic vehicles, and that as the second quarter of the year had just commenced, he was particularly busy. In addition, he had to catch up on two months' work. His Honor: Have you not had a sufficient number of officers to do the work ?

The Inspector: Yes. There are two of us who do these duties all the time. His Honor: On this occasion 1 will let you go, not because of the merit of your application, but because we happen to have n. sufficient panel; if anything more than sufficient. However, my view is that you are an employee of the City Corporation, and it is the duty of the City Corporation to help as far as it can in the performance of public service, such as iurv service. If employers like the City Corporation are to be permitted to have their employees exempt simply because they are employees of the corporation, well, we will have trouble in obtaining nn efficient jury service. 1 hope a similar application to this will not be made in future."

In replying to another juror who sought exemption on the ground that bis business required his presence in the country, His Honor said: "1 do not want to interfere more than can be helped with the business activities of people who are called to serve. Nevertheless, it is an obligation and a privilege, too. After all, men liko you ought to serve when you aro called upon."