SERVICE ON JURY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18234, 1 November 1933, Page 11

SERVICE ON JURY

DUTY OF EMPLOYERS CHIEF. JUSTICE’S COMMENT The obligation upon employers to assist as far as possible in granting facilities to their employees to servo on juries was stressed by the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, in the Wellington Supreme Court, when an application was made by a City Council traffic inspector for exemption from jury service. The inspector, who appeared, in court in uniform, said he wished to apply for exemption, and in support of his application handed up a letter to His Honor. Upon reading this, His Honor remarked: “What will be the effect upon the service of tho traffic department if you are not there? Will all the traffic have to stop, or what?” “Not necessarily, sir,” replied the inspector, who explained that he was engaged in inspecting heavy traffic vehicles and that as the second" quarter of the year had just commenced lie was parti- • cularly busy. In addition, ho had to cat-ch up on two months’ work. 1 His Honor: Have you not had a sufficient number of officers to do the work ? The inspector: Yes. There are two of us who do these duties all the time. His IJonor: On this occasion I will let you go, not because of the merit of your application, but because vie happen to have a sufficient panel; if anything, more than sufficient, but my view is that you are an employee of the City Corporation: it is the duty of the City Corporation to help as far as it can in the performance of public service, such as jurj/ service. If employers like the City Corporation are to be permitted to have their employees exempt simply because they are employees of the corporation, well, we will have trouble in obtaining an efficient jury service. 1 hope a similar application to this will not be marie in future.” In replying to another juror who sought exemption on the ground that his business required his presence in the country, His Honor said : “I do not want to interfere more than can be helped with the business activities of people who are called to serve. Nevertheless, it is an obligation and a privilege, too. After all, men like you ought to serve when you are called upon.” I The applicant was granted exemption.