HEAVY COURT WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21763, 31 March 1934, Page 15

HEAVY COURT WORK

LONG LIST OF CASES CRITICISM FROM BENCH Criticism of the police for bringing a considerable number of cases for hearing on the day immediately before the Easter holidays was made by Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., in the Police Court on Thursday. When the summary cases had been dealt with, the magistrate commented that there was still an unusually large number of indictable cases to be handled, and ho did not know how the police expected all the business to be dealt with in one day. It was unfair, also, to have witnesses and persons interested in the cases waiting about the Court for hours, and it seemed to him that other arrangements could and should have been made. ' "Bringing these cases on in such a way is quite unnecessary," added the magistrate. "I do not. know who is responsible for leaving these matters until the day before the holidays." Senior-Detectiv§ Hall assured the magistrate that ho would bring the views expressed before the notice of the proper police authority. "I wish you would," said Mr. McKean. Later in the morning Mr. Hall Skelton, counsel in an indictable case, drew attention to the extreme inconvenience of being required to wait at the Court for the hearing on such a day. He pointed out that the day was actually the last of the financial year, and the completion of banking matters was vital. He feareS that ho would have to withdraw from the case if he had to wait at the Court indefinitely. The police said an adjournment was not possible, because the principal witness would shortly be leaving New Zealand. It was arranged to defer Mr. Skelton's case until late in the afternoon. No fewer than 19 accused came before the Court, and three prosecutors, Senior-Detective Hall, Senior-Sergeant Flanagan and Detective-Sergeant McHugh, were occupied. Apart from Mr. McKean, cases were heard befpre Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., and two justices. The setting of the main Court did not finish until 6 p.m., while, in another Court civil matters were being considered until 5 p.m.