A DIVORCE SUIT

Otago Witness, Issue 4039, 11 August 1931, Page 24

A DIVORCE SUIT

PUBLICATION OF EVIDENCE FORBIDDEN. WELLINGTON, August 5. Before evidence was called in a divorce suit set down for hearing before a jury in which Tom Asher is eeekin" the annulment of his marriage with Maata Asher on the ground of alleged misconduct, the Chief Justice (Mr Justice Myers), from the particulars supplied, said the case came within section 55 of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, and he made an order forbidding publication of any report or account of the evidence in the case, and said the order included the prohibition of the publication of any photograph or sketch of the parties or witnesses. Mention, however, could be made that the case was beiog heard, and the names of the parties could also be published. It well might be, continued his Honor, that no newspaper had the right to publish a photograph or a sketch of any person, be he a litigant or a witness, who had come to the court on business in connection with the administration of justice, without the consent of the persons photographed. It might amount to contempt of court. “ I express no opinion upon he matter,” said his Honor, “ because I prefer to reserve my opinion until the matter comes before the court in proper form, as some day it seems to me it must do.”