THE COURSE OF JUSTICE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1565, 8 October 1912, Page 4

THE COURSE OF JUSTICE.

CANNOT BE INTERFERED WITH. Over a month ago a letter wns forward" cd to Iho Minister for Justice, asking him to interest himself in having convicted pillagers of cargo .punished by visiting on them the full penalty of the law, the idea being that the iiues that have hitherto been inflicted are not n severe enough deterrent. The Minister's reply to that communication concerned the cheeking and more efficient handling of the goods by the harbour board. A further letter wns then forwarded by the chamber, delicately suggesting that the -Minister had not exactly grasped the point. The answer to that communication left lift doubt that he had. It ran as follows;— "In further reference to tho representations lrom your chamber regarding the pillaging of cargo on railways and steamers arriving in port, I should like to stato that as Minister for Justice I cannot in any way interfere with tho Judges or 'Stipendiary Magistrates in the matter of the penalties imposed on persons convicted on such charges. Tho Court must decide from tho evidence adduced what punishment must be inflicted. I should like, however, to know if your council suggests 1 an amendment of the law, providing for increased penalties in these cases.—Yours faithfully. A, L. HERDMAN." It was made quite clear by the choir* man (Mr. A, B. Mabin) that no suggestion had been made to the Minister that justice should be in any way interfered with. All they wished was thatconvicted pillagers of cargo should be adequately punished.