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Woodville Examiner, Volume XIII, Issue 2377, 10 June 1895, Page 2

A bankrupt at Auckland stated that he was paying 120 per cent interest on money. The Shylock who is thus sucking his brother's blood is worse than the thief, and the law should be such as to deal with him accordingly.

When the Hon. J. G. Ward had concluded his address to the London Chamber of Commerce, Mr Brodie Hoare, M.P., at once came forward and said be should like so supplement what Mr Ward had said as to the excellence of the colony by reading an extract from a speech delivered by Mr Ward's chief, the Premier of New Zealand. What he read was Mr Seddon's peroration in moving the last Midland Railway Bill, in which he declared that the colony would forfeit its honor and credit if the House did not pass the bill. " The bill did not pass," said Mr.Brodio Hoare, " and the Government is still in office. I need say no more I" And . then he stalked dramatically from the platform and out of the room amid a "silence that might be feli.''

Oim attention has been drawn to the decision of the justices who dealt with the case of larceny on Friday last, in which a penalty was imposed as an alternative for imprisonment. It is probably not generally known that under “ The Indictable Offences Summary Jurisdiction Act of 1891.” Justices have discretionary power in awarding imprisonment, or imposing a penalty for theft. In the adminisof criminal law Justices have to keep in view the object of the publiegood, not the redress of private wrongs. They have also to see that punishment and penalties are awarded not by way of retributibution or compensation, but for the purpose of protecting society and with a view to reforming the offender. It is implicitly laid down for the guidance of Justices that, when a lighter punishment within the limits is likely toattain the desired object, as well as a heavier, the former ought to be preferred. We have ascertained from those present that the presiding Justices very properly took care in ascertaining all the surrounding circumstances of the case before passing sentence. Had they exceeded their jurisdiction we should have been the first to demand an enquiry.