Are There too Many inquests?

NZ Truth, Issue 985, 11 October 1924, Page 5

Are There too Many inquests?

And Are Fees The Cause ?

Magistrate-Coroners And Doctors Work At So Much "Per"

If the calculations of the writer, whose contribution is published below, .are wejh founded, the abolition of coroners' fees should 1 result m a reduction of the number of inquests; although the doctors also are accused of having a finger m the pie.

Should it prove to be a fact, as reported recently m "Truth," that the Government intends tb abolish the coroners' fees that are now a considerable element m the earnings of some Magistrates, that reform is by uo means before its time. Any movement to pay the Magistrates increased salary instead of cor-, oners' fees is a move towards economy and self-respect. & . So long as. there is a coroners' vfee of two guineas, and mileage payments, attaching to an inquest; it can be relied on that m daubtful cases of dpafch the inquest will always get the benefit of the doubt. Also; so long as there is .a postmortem examination, fee, surgery will always get the benefit of. any medical doubt that may be conjured up. And, between the coroner and the doctor, the stock of doubts is not likely to be easily exhausted. . Family feelings have been hurt and domestic privacy has beenvinvaded m, cases of sudden death, the plain circumstances of which show that both post mortem examination and inquest were unnecessary; and yet both have been carried out, to the affliction of the bereaved. In mental hospital cases the inquest is, I believe, statutory. The coroners

fee 'and mileage will, I think, be found to show a substantial profit over his train fare and the cost of his meal. Whether it is statutory or not, the holding of many of these inquests m .mental hospitals is unnecessary. . A police investigation and report would be sufficient safeguard, m mental hospital deaths and also m other deaths; and the .inquests necessary after such investigation and report would probably be not more than 25 per cent, of the dumber now held. But whether the m inquests that would be caused by abolition of fees be 75 per cent, or only 50 per cent., the fact remains that the fee basis is wrong-/ These inquests that are deemed to be really necessary should not be paid for on the piecework plan. The inquests throughout a district could be carried out, on a small annual allowance, by a retired Magistrate or other suitable person. In murder cases is witnessed often the duplication . of inquiries by one, man, who holds an inquest as coroner and hears a charge as Magistrate. As coroner he earns a fee for doing what is part of his job as Magistrate.-. The coroner cannot commit for trial; the Magistrate can. "Why this doublebanking? PROFESSIONAL. JUROR.