“MUST BE ACCURATE”

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1931, Page 8

“MUST BE ACCURATE”

CRIMINAL CALENDAR.

CHIEF JUSTICE'S COMMENTS.

Some, misunderstanding occurred in the Supreme Court at Wellington on Monday regarding the non-appearance of a Maori, Hiha Nuia Makaore, alias Jim Nuia, aged 18, uhose name appeared on the calendar for sentence on a charge of breaking and entering and theft, and this, together with mistakes that occurred in the calendar, led the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, to make some sharp comment. When Makaore’e name was called there was no appearance of the ac- : cutsed, and the case was stood down to the end of the list. It was subsequently ascertained that Makaore was not on bail, as at first stated, but was in gaol. His Honour sto.od the case down until next Monday. “This is about the third or fourth mistake,’’ commented His Honour, who asked the gaoler from Mount Crawford Prison if he could offer any explanation. .

The gaoler said that apparently a member of his staff had made a mistake.

“I don’t care whethei - it’ is a clerk’s mistake, or whose it is,” said His Honour. “Information in regard to prisoners who come before this Court must be accurate and some care must be taken in compiling the records. Please see that your staff exercises more care in the future. You see prisoners, to some extent, are dealt with upon information contained in the calendar. The Court is at least entitled and must insist upon correct information being supplied.” The Assistant Crown Prosecutor (Mr. C. Evans Scott) said that the gaoler obtained a large amount of the information from the prisoners themselves.

The Chief Justice: “He doesn’t obtain from a prisoner himself whether he is in custody or on bail.” Mr. Evans Scott said he made his observation in respect particularly of prisoners’ ages. He would see, however, that the. matter was inquired into.