PROHIBITORY DECREE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXV, Issue 18948, 6 August 1931, Page 5

PROHIBITORY DECREE

EVIDENCE AND PHOTOS IN DIVORCE CASE. By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, August 5. Before evidence was called in a divorce suit set down for hearing before a Jury, in which Tom Asher is seeking the annulment of his marriage with Maata Asher, on the ground of alleged adultery, the Chief Justice said that from the particulars supplied the case came within section 55 of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, and he made an order forbidding publication of any report or account of the evidence in the case. He said the order Included the prohibition of the publication of any photograph or sketch of the parties or witnesses. Mention, however, could be made that the case was being heard, and the names of the parties could also be publshed. “It well might be,” continued His Honor, “that no newspaper had the right ta publish a photograph or sketch of any person, be he litigant or witness, who had come to Court on business in connection with the administration of justice without the consent of the persons photographed. It might amount to contempt of Court. I express no opinion upon the matter," said his Honor, "because I prefer to reserve my opinion until the matter comes before the Court in proper form, as some day it seems to me it must do.”