SERVICE ON JURIES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1128, 16 May 1911, Page 4

SERVICE ON JURIES.

A NEW GROUND FOR EXEMPTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Christchurch, May 15. A new ground for exemption from service on a jury was raised by Mr. George B. Evans, summoned as juror at the Supreme Court this morning. The ground in question was that ho was a member of the Territorial Force. His Honour: I know of a great number of persons being excused from service as jurors—members of fire brigades, for instance. You say that being a Territorial excuses you? Mr. Evans: According to the Defence Act, sir. Mr. T. W. Stringer, K.C., Crown Prosecutor, upon looking '-p the Defence. Act at the request of his Honour, said that under Section 101 of the Act all members of the Defence Force, except members of deience rillc clubs, wcro absolved from. serving on juries. Mr. Stringer said that when the defence system came into full play there would be no jurymen at all. liis Honour said the provision had simply been put in as an indulgence, but it had the elt'eut of robbing them 01 the best men on the jury. , The names of Territorials wore on the jury list, and so would lead to troublo and contusion, and the result would be that they would not have enough men lo serve on juries. Mr. Evans was absolved from service.