PURGING JURY LISTS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2119, 9 April 1914, Page 8

PURGING JURY LISTS

' .' THE SCRATCHING PEN WARM TIME FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS UNDER FIRE. (By TcJezraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, April 8. -l'o-dar, Mr. Kettle, S.M., made further inquiries into the matter of compiling the AucklanuJury list. .Afteranother brush with Sub-lnspeetor Johnston, who said that ho could give no further information about the deletion of tho names from the lists, the Magistrate beard Detective-Sergeant Hollis, who said that the detectives had mado the revision in accordance with a custom that had obtained throughout the eighteen years- that' he had been in the Force. He believed that a general order on the subject was issued some years ago.' He could not say who struck out any : particular name-pit was done by the detectives in conjunction. Mr. Kettle: This is the fourth sitting; which we have held, and, so far, we havo found out about only two names out of hundreds struck out. There are lots of people not on the roll who should be on. , Witness: That is a matter of opinion. We have a wider idea of people and their qualifications.. , • Mr. Kettle: The revision is an important duty, and it must bo done in the light of day. Witness: A man might be connected with' person's of ill-repute. There are numbers of .people who we know- will never, convict a person. "Colng to the Bitter End." Mr'.' Kettio"handed 'witness a. list of sixteen Parnell residents whose .names had been struck off, and remarked that the Justices thought that' mauy cf them should be on. / . Witness: AVe think better. Mr.-Kettle: Well, mark one. Witness: How far is this going? ' Mr. Kettle': It is,going to the.bitter fend. Witness still demurred, and Mr. Ketile asked: "Do you decline?" AVitness: Yes. ; Mr. Kettle: Then;step down. AAftness, however, remained in the box. and stated that three at least out of the sixteen:should be.struck out. Mr. Kettle: Do you mean that, merely because of their private lives, they should not sit on a jury? '~ Witness: AA'o have done it in the interests cf the public, and of; justice. Mr. Kettle: I do not want a speech; Tell mo (producing another list) how many of those 69 names struck out m Parnell you consider should have been struck out. . ■ . ' ' Witness examined the list, and said that thirty ought to bo off. Mr. Kettio: Or. what grounds? . . AVitness: On various grounds. Mr. Kettle: Under the.Act? - Witness: No. ■Mr. Kettle': TJnder instructions?' AVitness: Yes. Mr.-' Kettle: AVhat instructions ? _ AVitness: This is a one-sided affair. I'd like to -see what you havo there? Mr. Kettle: You're not going to see it. An Officer's AdmissionWitness: I havo told you what I kno?/. This method has been going on for eighteen years. . Mr. Kettle: It is going to stop. Do you mean that a man may he struck off not because he is disqualified, but because the think' him better off tho list? " ' . Witness: Certain information, comes to us Mr! Kettle: Are you a law unto yourselves ? ■•■'.. . AVitness: I do not want to strike any man off, but many would only be stood aside if they were sent to the Supreme Court. • Somo of those thirty are disqualified, and others were struck off because of their associations. If a member of a large family has been convicted, for instance,' none of the other memhers of it will convict anybody. Mr. Kettle: Do you admit that .yon have gone outside the Sot? Witness: Yes, I do. Tho sitting was then adjourned till April ?0 ' ' '