LAW REFORM INQUIRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22805, 12 August 1937, Page 12

LAW REFORM INQUIRY

COMMITTEE APPOINTED THE GRAND JURY SYSTEM COMMENT BY THE MINISTER [by TELKCKArn —OWN correspondent] WELLINGTON, Wednesday In order to investigate certain questions of law reform, among them that relating to the abolition of the grand jury, a Law Reform Committee has been appointed by tho AttorneyGeneral, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, and it will hold its first meeting this month. In making the announcement to-day, the Minister said that on tho committee he had the assistance of members of the Supreme Court Bench, the legal profession and law faculties at the university. " This committee," said Mr. Mason, " has been set up at tho request of tho legal profession as expressed at the Dunedirt Law Conference."

Questioned regarding the suggested abolition of. the grand jury, upon which he admitted, he had decided views, Mr. Mason remarked" that from time to time the question had been raised as' to whether the grand jury had not outlived its usefulness. Arguments against it had been shortly expressed by saying that it could only do again, and do imperfectly, what had already been done, and done well. "I have no doubt," the Minister added, "that the question of the utility of the grand jury in New Zealand at the present day will be one of .the early matters that the committee will take into consideration.','