JUDGES AT VARIANCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11027, 16 March 1914, Page 4

JUDGES AT VARIANCE.

It is about time that the New Zealand Judges came' to some agreement in regard to the rights of constables in dealing with suspected persons. Last month, for instance, Mr Justice Cooper reprimanded a policeman for not cautioning a suspect before .taking a. statement from him. At Napier last week, counsel for an accused person complained, to Judge Edwards that a constable had ncted improperly in questioning his client prior to arrest. What was the Judge's comment? The Judge said the officer had done his proper duty by questioning prisoner as to whether or not ho committed the alleged offence, and he added that many a man could satisfy the police by his answer whether he was guilty or not. Here we have two absolutely contrary directions to the police. We prefer that of Mr Justice Edwards. It is marked by reasonableness and commonsense. As we. have 'said previously, an innocent man has nothing to fear from a categorical examination by the guardians of the law. "Why should our judges he so solicitous for the protection of those who have got everything to hido by refusing to commit themselves? The police are faced with a sufficiency of obstacles. There is no reason why the judiciary should insist on erecting artificial hurdles on tlje track.