ALTERED LAW

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 63, Issue 4490, 15 October 1941, Page 5

ALTERED LAW

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND FLOGGING. GRAND JURY’S RIDER. “As this is the first occasion on which I have had the opportunity of addressing a Grand Jury since certain recent alterations were made in the laiw effecting the abolition of capital and corporal punishment, I had intended to refer to the matter in some detail,” said the Chief Jus tice, Sir Michael Myers, when delivering his charge to the Grand Jury at the Qpening of the quarterly session of the Supreme Court in Hamilton yesterday. “ However, on consideration, in view of the serious issues created by the war situation, I think it undesirable to say anything which may have a tendency to evoke controversy on what is, after all, though very important, a matter of only domestic concern. For practical purposes the issue has, for the time be ing at all events, been closed by legislative action.” On the return of the Grand Jury which returned true bills in all three criminal cases, the foreman, Mr C. Nisbet, expressed the jury’s regret that the power of the Court had been restricted with regard to the imposition of flogging in sexual cases. His Honour said the Grand Jury’s presentment would be sent to the Minister of Justice. He (the Chief Justice) said he w’ould not comment on the matter at present, but might do so later in the session. “It is unfortunate that presentments of this kind were not made before the law was altered,” said His Honour. “ I regard the Grand Jury as a very important integral part in the administration of British justice, and I hope that nothing will ever bo done to eliminate it. I venture to suggest that the Grand Jury might play a more active part than it does. In the past useful presentments might have been made, but were not. If the Grand Jury is not fully alive to its privileges in that respect it is very unfortunate.”