SUMMARISED MESSAGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 228, 28 September 1935, Page 8

SUMMARISED MESSAGE

INCORRECT INFERENCE. | Pei- Press Association. J WELLINGTON. Sept. 27. In a recent speech at Diiqedin. Mr. Ansell criticised the decision of the Court where a woman who was found guilty of being intoxicated whilst in charge of a motor-car, was fined but her name suppressed. -Mr. Ansell, in a statement to-day. remarked that he was correctly reported in Dunedin, but the telegraphed summary of his remarks published in other newspapers indicated that in his criticism he had inferred that the case had been heard before a magistrate. “This.” continued Mr. Ansell, “is not the correct interpretation of my remarks, as I knew when making my statement that the case was heard be fore two justices of (he peace. I therefore made mt reference whatever to a magistrate. Jt is obvious that the Press Association message has unintentionally attributed to me a statement which, inflicts an injustice upon the magistrate of the district concerned, ami it is my wish that this explanation should receive the same amount of publicity as the. telegraphed message. It is definitely my opinion that cases of this nature should be heard '■inly before magistrates, as they have the necessary training and experience which enables them to deal more cquit I ably with difficult questions often arisi ing in such cases where the evidence ! is frequently technically difficult, par jticulariv on the point of degree of in , toxication, where even medical views are sometimes conflicting. I have I ascertained that in certain districts I general instructions are given bv the I stipendiary magistrate that all these I cases must, be heard by a magistrate and that in the event of it being neces I sary to take a preliminarv hearing, it ■ should be adjourned for final- decision Ibv the magistrate. If this procedure, | which I approve, had been adopted in ' the case I referred to. there could have been no grounds for my criticism.