JURY SYSTEM DEFENDED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21782, 23 April 1934, Page 12

JURY SYSTEM DEFENDED

ADDRESS BY JUDGE WANGANUI CASE QUOTED [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] \ r CHRISTCHURCEL Saturday A" strong defence of the jury system fend a reply to those who have suggested abolition were made by Mr. Justice Johnston in a commemoration day address at Canterbury College. He remarked that persons with experience were convinced that juries were the best tribunals to deal with questions of fact. "Our English system of Justice demands the assistance in its adminisiraiion of the people at large," said His Honor. "Our cases are put to the people as represented by juries and all questions of fact are put to the 12 men whp represent the country in the various cases. It is common enough, in ;cheap criticism, to say that juries are' not to be trusted, but at the same time you have to consider that the moist experienced people —people with experience of hundreds of juries—are convinced that a jury is the best tribunal to decide matters of fact." His Honor added:—"There was a striking 'case of deep feeling in the minds of English lawyers and how deep a place the jury has in our system of jurisprudence in the Wanganui case which was taken before the Privy Council last year. It was that of a Chinese •who was riding a motor-cycle and was run down by a man driving a car. The cas6 came before three juries in New Zealand. The "first could not agree, the second the Judge thought was perverse and the third answered questions which the' Court of Appeal thought were inconsistent, and gave judgment without a jury at all. When the Privy Council heard the case it was decided that the findings of the second jury were conclusive and that judgment joust be given according to them."