QUESTION OF EXTRADITION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 922, 15 September 1910, Page 4

QUESTION OF EXTRADITION.

[ .HOW FAETEE STATE MIGHT HELP.-:'..;;:-.-..: /v/y,; With 1 the object of urging the Govera. ment to 'makeVjtself,responsible for. the cost .of extraditing'-a man who had al-: legedly absconded, from '.Auckland' '.with "he funds of a newly-formed lodge, a deputation: representative;, of. the United j'nendly Societies' Council • waited upon \ the Hon. Dr. Findlay, Minister for; Justice,. yesterday..- - ~;.-' ,■..--,.-- ] ■The Minister (in reply) said/that 1 tie appreciated ■ the hardship of the case, but" he:. could not see .his ..way .to depart from i .• ; i8 rule in force not only in New Zealand, .but: in .Australia and Great Bri-; tain. The rule rwas, in -effect,- .that' where a ,'criminal offence was" v 'n'ot really" an.' offence • against. the the - ' complainant . must give the ; Crown; an' in-< demnity againststhe cost of bringing the offender baok. ;If the rule were relaxed in this case, it would have to; Be ' in cases where'creditors .and 'employers were defrauded.' ; In such : cases it not infrequently, turned, out'. that.'■■ the pro-., ceedings should 'never nave.been ; of a.' criminal nature, .'but. ;by 7 way -..'of '.civil: process. must:be done'.which would; increase the; / temptation , to abuse:-' lie criminal process..'.' It■ was tfue'-that: lie : ,was proposing that v absconding: hus< ; i bands: should ;be: brought;'back'at the", public .expense, but that had <;beebm6', necessary':'■ not so much, .for. the -/pro. tee- . lion of the deserted wife as for. the pro--'tection' of ; .the; State against ; the l increas. .'. ;ng' burden of supporting'.destitute, wives and children. : He. /was.- sorry therefor*'that he cduldnot accede, to' therequest.'.'' :