DRAPER AND THE BENCH.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1592, 8 November 1912, Page 4

DRAPER AND THE BENCH.

ffiy ■ Aticklarid, November, t. ; The case Of v, f. H-'Hanimi! (draper), in tfihich-.plaintiff.di.aiiiied.'a'T.f.' turn of lis. paid.ois a-dcposit'oil 'the-rent*--irig of a. house' for. defendant,' 'caiii'o.''Up for the third time at the. .Ma'gistfate;e Court this. mor.nihg, before" Mr. , Cv. & ■Kettle, S'.M'. When'the. case'was heard on Tuesday .'lastj. .Hannah; ..wlo, had had a number of arruni'enfs with' the magistrate; alleging : that, the Cii'urti was prejudiced against him,-he' was.;c'alled .up.b.a to show cause at the "next"hearing wh r ho pliould hot lie 'Committed foV contempt of Court for 1 telling to' disobey no order from the nj.agistr.ato. to. the: effect that he myst .■produce .certain, accounts. , '"'.", v.,' „■< ' "■' ■ When the case/was', called this morn-. ing : Hannan,Mo-cdna.hcte3 , h,i.S'.ovji.:ca9e, asked for an .'adjburnttjeilt 'for nine or ten weeks.. , ' ' ■ ;■■. .;, .... "Yon told ine, :yohr Worship; . Jieieaid, "that, if I had any: .complaint to make; I should apply to ! the. Minister for.'.Ju!* tice.. iA deputation of prominent-eitizenj is going 'to wait'up/m* ..the: Premier and '.Minister for'Justicb wheii .they'nmyeAiv' [Auckland in order to'a^fc■for..an inquiry into the injustice done :me. I ani.quiteprepared to pay: the.costs, of .the adjourn* Mr." Kettle, roplied..that ..'tlielb. was,no grounds, for" a,n adjbur'ninent, and he .'must; fefii6e,the request. ... '.'.'.. jlr. Htthnaii then traversed the evidence, at some length,.and.concluded .by/asking: Mr.' Kettle; to'' /give -hum a. clause .in ■the., Magistraiols; Court Act which, gave him ■pQ'wer to order witness to produce, private doeijmenfs. ~ ~.. * • i ■ "That is a ■■.question which I need, not: answer/' stti'd Mr; Kettle,' "I have power ■tb : '''call fo; produce, cto.c.u■merits which , : . : hb, has referred to in his evidence," ■ ■■ ■ ■ t; . * ; : ." .Mr. Hainan, protested at tnas, and r.e< marked ;■ "Thin is . a Coiirt ,of Justice, : vour" Worship—not a ■commission of inquiry. I submit that' I have "the/right to know what authority'.you bav. e in ordering llio production of theseynuyate i documents; I submit, that T,our Worship has' no iiowcr to. order their production Without' the'party's consent, ■■' . . "I am of opinion that'l have .power, ■ ■ remarked Mr. Kettle.. . „..'■.■ .'. Mr. : Hahnan: "This -i* another, .put-up: job, engineered by the. same..'syndicate 4ho ordered '.those, cases about .inf. B?ker Street and .Federal 'Strict prgp'brty..' E&. Biin'iin"' his .convmentary ,0n the':.case,: Mr. Hannan said> "Th'b tirvengineers is grossly;exaggerated!.and iii manv instances, purje fiction, I claim *igW in this, pourt, and I ask i "1 hive seenthe: .house " ..said' Mr, i Kettle, "and I intend to. :re..scr,ve. my .decision in this Case. !■■ how call upon, you, Mr, Sannan, to show cause. *'. you. should not be committed ifor -spntempt of Court." '' :■ ' : '■', ■. ...■ ■'„. !' Mr. Hannah: .."! am conducting' .m.J qwri case mi layman," your Worship,, ami I ask you .to toll mo what I/ani charged. 'Vrl Kettle, ■.explained the position,.' whereupon 'Mr/'Hainan 'stated. ; th.afe{ he, ;had hM. unrti;e.to find any to: aiii' Offence under the Magistrate s-^ttr.t }Act. "1 Iwlieve 'that I vas, jyvthiij.; my ■ rights iii acting: as I did, padded; .:;■!;; am o, law-a:b'iiUnK'.'.citizen, your.Ayprshlp.i I : hava'been, a Jnstioe of the Peace for nearly o, quarter of a ,century v and' I .am:a'visiting jilstiba to. the-,«w)lr. v ?"had no ; vrisii. to insult .'-He. to explain that he '\vq\daj.!k.e''.an..:f;ajOur.m: : nient W'enable, liiiu to secure-local- legal Verr-wbU'./ I ftiH^iourn. ! thb'case'tn'l.'to-morrow. 'morniugs.'-ltwoum have been far:'bottorvfor , : you if ..you. had Hi a solicitor in a'll-..y6ur cases;,, -~.