PROPOSED NEW COURTS

Southland Times, Issue 24181, 18 July 1940, Page 7

PROPOSED NEW COURTS

Use In Emergency In Britain OPPOSITION IN PARLIAMENT (British Official Wireless) (Received July 17, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, July 16. An explanation of the Government’s intentions on the scope and duties of the courts to be set up for the trial of civilians in districts where, and if military developments were such, the ordinary process of justice could not be followed was given in the House of Commons by Sir John Anderson, Minister of Home Security. He said that the proposed courts were not courts martial. The Government’s object was to avoid the necessity of establishing anything in the nature of military courts. The special courts which it proposed would consist of a president, who would be a man of judicial rank or one qualified for a high judicial appointment, assisted by two Justices of the Peace with a knowledge of local conditions. They would not operate in such districts as had to be declared, as the result, for example, of an attempted invasion or of an exceptionally severe air attack. The courts would cease to function on return to normal conditions. The procedure of these courts would be simplified so as to permit speedy dealing with grave offences which were of importance from a military point of view such as looting and “forcing safeguard.” Sir John explained that the ordinary rules of evidence would apply and that the accused person would be allowed legal representation but that, unlike the Courts of Assize, there would be no jury and no appeal. DEATH SENTENCES In order to give a full picture of the Government’s proposal, Sir John stated that it was proposed to empower these courts by the Defence Regulations to impose the death sentence for stated offences which, under the present law, would not carry such a penalty. It might not be found necessary to put the Bill into operation at all or, at any rate, not on an extensive scale, but the Government felt it desirable to prepare for all contingencies. The Bill provoked a storm of protest from members of the House of Commons, resulting in the Home Secretary’s withdrawing the proposal to pass the Bill through all stages on the one day. Sir John Anderson also promised to make amendments. After Sir John Anderson’s statement as to the nature and functions of the courts, members maintained that these matters should be contained in the Bill which, as it stands, gives the Government full discretion on these points. Criticism was also directed against the proposed new courts. A number of speakers declared that, martial law was preferable in an emergency.

WORKERS’ PARTY WINS IN BALTIC STATES (Received July 17, 6.30 p.m.) TALLINN, July 16. The elections in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania resulted in an “overwhelming” victory for the Workers’ Party, which advocates the closest collaboration with the Soviet. No other candidates were allowed. In Washington, the President of the United States (Mr Franklin D. Roosevelt) froze Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian credits. The total funds are only 990,000 dollars. “COBBER’S” MOTHER IN ENGLAND (Received July 17, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 16. Flying Officer E. J. (“Cobber”) Kain's mother and sister arrived in England last Thursday. They expressed a wish to visit “Cobber’s” grave in France, which is now impossible, but the Royal Air Force authorities are doing their utmost to return “Cobber’s” belongings and valuables to his mother and also to obtain a photograph of his grave.