The Waikato Argus. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of over 8000 Weekly. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 80, 1907.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXIII, Issue 3619, 30 October 1907, Page 2

The Waikato Argus. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of over 8000 Weekly. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 80, 1907.

The complaint made by a witness at a coroner’s inquest held in Auckland is reasonable. He complains that in consequence of knowing; something of the circumstances of a matter to be inquired into he was subjected to a monetary loss of 15s. The coroner condoled with him, but held out no hope that his loss would be made good from the public exchequer. It can be readily understood that the witnesses at these ancient and historical functions should feel a little disgusted when they contemplate the fact that they are the only actors in the drama who go unrewarded for services rendered to their country. The

coroner gets his fee, the jury get theirs, and, as to the police, the ar-

ranging of inquests is part of their duties, for the performance of which they are paid a yearly salary. The existing system of compelling witnesses to give evidence at coroners’ inquests at their own cost is calculated to interfere with the detection of crime and the punishment of the criminal. The early discovery of a crime, whether it be murder, arson, or any other, is essential to the meting out of justice. Clearly, the knowledge that he will lose time and suffer monetary loss, is calculated to deter the ordinary individual from divulging the fact that he can throw light upon any matter which might become the subject of coronial enquiry. A person, for instance, who in passing an unfrequented place, discovers a corpse, would be likely to pass on and leave to some other person the duty of informing the authorities of the fact. Presuming that his sense of public duty leads him to do otherwise,it is most unjust that he should be made to suffer the whole of the loss consequent on attendance at a court or courts to give evidence. This is a matter which calls for remedy. There is no reason whatever why the witness should be worse treated than the juryman.