DUTY OF EVERY CITIZEN

Taranaki Daily News, 29 October 1934, Page 4

DUTY OF EVERY CITIZEN

ASSISTANCE OF JUSTICE COMMENT BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE. 9 RELUCTANCE OF WITNESS IN CASE. ADVERSE CRI'CICISM OT CONDUCT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Oct. 27. The duty of a citizen to assist justice by giving evidence freely was emphasised by the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, when summing up in a claim, for damages following an accident, in Lie Supreme Court. Counsel for the defence had called as a witness the driver of a car approaching the scene of the accident at the tiqie it happened. The witness said he was present on subpoena and would rather be out of the case. He saw the accident and was a mere acquaintance of the plaintiff. His Honour raid that the witness d d not seem to have helped the jury in the “I cannot help thinking, gentlemen, that every citizen is interested in seeing justice done between the King and a subject and between man and man, and if a person sees something happen, and what he has seen should be told in order to do justice between man and man, it is the duty of that person to come into court and say what he knows,” said His Honour.

Counsel had said before the witness to whom His Honour was referring was called that no statement had been obtained from him. He had had to subpoena him and did not know what he was going to say. That man came into the court and gave precious little information. It had been left to His Honour to ascertain from two other passengers in the cars that that man must have known more than he had said in court, and, if he knew more than he said, His Honour asked why he did not tell what little he knew.

“I have no doubt, gentlemen, you will consider, as I do, the gentleman has not shown to advantage,” was His Honour's concluding comment on the subject.