REPORT SOUGHT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22491, 28 January 1943, Page 4

REPORT SOUGHT

Armed Forces Appeal Court (N.Z.P.A.) GISBORNE, Jan. 27. A meeting of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce yesterday called attention to a published report that the Gisborne Trades and Labour Council had requested its appointee on the Armed Forces Appeal Court to attend a meeting of the council and report on cases heard by him. In regard to one specific case it was decided to ask for a rehearing and, in the event of an adverse decision, to communicate with the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones). Mr L. T. Bumard, who brought the matter up, said that the report indicated the establishment of the practice of a member of the Appeal Court attending meetings of the Trades and Labour Council and reporting on cases heard by the court a disclosure, in effect, by a member of a court of matters heard by it. There also appeared to be an intention to interfere with the functions of the Appeal Court. It was decided to forward a copy of the report to the Associated Chambers of Commerce, with a request that it take appropriate action to safeguard the confidential character of judicial proceedings and prevent interference by outsiders with appeal courts.