QUESTION OF PRIVACY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11219, 9 December 1911, Page 5

QUESTION OF PRIVACY.

LIQUOR IN NO-LICENSE AREA

SEARCHING THE COURT

RECORDS,

"Sergeant Miller is always in'the habit of searching the Court records in order to see what liquor is coming into tho district," said Mr Pownall in the course of a licensing caso at the S.M. Court this morning. "He has no right to do this, and I have always protested against his action, and do so again on this occasion." Subsequently, when Sergeant Miller was in the witness-box, Mr .Pownall asked him: "Do you search the Court records every morning?" Sergeant Miller: "That is my business. '' Mr Pownall: "Oh, is it? You know perfectly well that the Act docs not contemplate that. The Act was framed for the purpose of privacy and to protect those persons in a NoLicense district who order liquor in tho legitimate way. Now, what I want to know is, do you search those Court records every morning?" Sergeant Miller: "I'm not going to toll you." Mr Pownall: "Is it not a fact that you know every person in Masterton who obtains liquor?" Sergeant Miller: "It is a fact that I have to keep it to myself.'' Mr Pownall: "It is directly contrary to the statute that you, Sergeant Miller, or anyone else can search these records and find out who is ordering liquor. There is no privacy about the matter at all when the Sergeant can do this, and we might as well go back to the days of the stock and pillory." The Sergeant blandly smiled, and the incident dropped.