SUPPRESSION OF NAMES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17087, 16 July 1926, Page 8

SUPPRESSION OF NAMES.

FURTHER EXTENSION PROPOSED. LABOR MEMBER'S BILL. (Per Press Association,) WELLINGTON, last night. In the House to-night, Mr. J. A. Leo (Auckland East) moved the w.-ond reading of the Offenders’ Probation Amendment. Bill, which provides that automatically the names of first offenders brought before the Courts shall not be published, nor shall any reference be made to occupation or address sufficient to disclose identity. Another section makes an exception in favor of the Court being empowered to permit the publication of the name of an accused or the description, this to be permissible if in the opinion of the Court, such publication of the nature of the offence, the disposition of the offender, his action in combination with others in committing an offence, or for any other reason, it is desirable in Lite interest of the public that the offender should be known. The, Bill also provides that .Section 9 of the lMenders’ Probation .Vet, 1920, shall be repealed. This section gives the Court power to prohibit the publication of names of accused persons. He maintained that his proposal was luinjanitarian. and 'that it. was approved by Bench and Bar, and this was an insurance against inconsistencies in the administration of the law, under which there might be ‘'one law for tlte rich and another for the poor." The Minister of Justice raid any suggestions for improvements in our penal system would always be sympathetically received. He did not think the Bill wa.s much of ait improvement because it .simply reversed the present law tinder which names could be suppressed. Ho was prepared to further consider the matter, and lie suggested the Bill be sent to the .Statutes Revision Committee, where the matter could bo looked at from every angle with the probation officers. Mr. Fraser, while supporting the Bill, thought the law .should go further, and that there .should be a suppression of the disgusting details of divorce cases heard in courts. The Bill was read a second time, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.