FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1932, Page 9

FIFTY YEARS AGO

ITEMS FKOM " THE POST "

CROWN PROSECUTIONS

"The- Grown Law.. Department in< this colony costs a good deal of money, and it is much to be doubted if the results obtained are at all proportionate to theheavy expenditure incurred," remarks an editorial in "The Post'? of this date fifty years ago. 'Tor'instance, it is surprising how much is paid to Crown Solicitors ana Proser eutors. There are altogether seventeen Crown Prosecutors in the colony, and their bills of costs during the last financial year amounted to over £5600. We do not specially object to those bills of .costs, though we are inclined 'to think that under a rigid system of , taxation they could be very materially reduced. But what we do say is, that the whole system of Crown prosecutions is essentially faulty, and that the colony does not obtain fair value for the money expended. It is notorious that cases for the Crown in this colony are very ofjen badly got up. In their initial Btages such cases are prepared ■ by "the police. Now, the average policeman, though admirably qualified to run in a drunk, or apprehend an individual caught redhanded in assault, is scarcely competent to compile a brief for the case which has to be sent for trial to the Supreme Court. A policeman is , not a lawyer, nor, perhaps, as a, rule, a ' highly educated man. "We contend, therefore, that all public prosecutions should not be left in their initial stages wholly^ to the police, but,should be taken in hand at once by a thoroughly capable lawyer. This naturally leads to: the- conclusion that Crown Prosecutors should be Departmental Officers, and carry' out all public prosecutions from fheir very: first stage until they are'finally tried in the Supreme Court. IS all' Crown prosecutions there should be some 'individual of trained intelliigerice.and legal skill to investigate the case thoroughly, to ferret out all necessary evidence, and to present to the : Court on the day of trial every jot and tittle of proof which is required on the part of the Crown. The Grown Prosecutor should start all prosecutions, arid carry theni right through; to the end. And while our system of Crown prosecutions is essentially faulty, it is also very costly. We spend nearly £6000 a year to do work unsatisfactorily, which could be thoroughly and efficiently performed for .far less money. Moreover, we have a highly-paid staff qf Crown Law Officers .who rarely ever figure in Crown prosecutions at all. "We have an Attorney-General at £1250 a year; a Solicitor-General—a permanent officer— at £1000' a year, and an assistant Law Officer at £600. . Yet despite the act that these gentlemen all represent the Crown and' are paid fey if» whenever Crown prosecutions' . have to' be instituted it nearly, always , happens,that private firms of. solicitors ; are employed to do the work, their „ bills ,of costs, for which range :• from ,"£2OO to £1483. a year. This state of things needs closely looking,-into. The work of the Crown prosecutions ought to .be' more efficiently done than it' is at present, and its cost ought to be materially reduce.d." , . 'NEW ZEALAND COAL. s'ln, our last issue we mentioned that the contract for the supply of coal to the Wellington-Masterton railway- had been secured by, the : Coal Pit-Heath Company,.-the-price'being 235-> lid a ton. We are glad to_stat.e, further that the contracts for the coal supply of all , the New Zealand, railways, have, been "• securedi-by; _ <;New^ Zealand - 'coall yprp>-!:.pH^^j*aii3\s^-:n^ciet£^.!p)neeß>^ibei]ig:! ! with.-' one exception '-ail' '.tbetoig! ,3()sr7a ;, ton,■■;• ;The( result" is tliat ,aotliing\ bii't , ■N.fiwN-Zfea'la^Arco^liiytiil^V'iiae^^ii-.Vpuf'. 1 100.0 .jniles ;6f railway.-.during. 4;he current " year.,' Thig' shpuid' ;give 'a; : Taiu^ able .stimulug to..'the:"cqai;'iridustryj one of the" most important .that. al, epuntry, can 'possess. It -should^tacburage, inrther efforts in the opening up of new mines, and in the development of thore already being worked; The great hope for New Zealand' in the future is the establishment and extension of industrial enterprises which afford abundant employmertt, besides substantially augmenting the -wealth of the community. We aie very pleased, therefore, to find the New Zealand collieries able to supply all 1 he New Zealand, railways, as well as steamer's,-:a£'"prices which justify the use of th'e"loca;l product in preference to importation:" ~, - , ISLAND BAY'S jQHARMS. , A large advertisement .inV';The;.Post" ' of this date fifty years ago. caHs-'atten-tion to the fact that there twere for; sale at Island Bay "beautiful; oihiquej and lovely allotments, of areaiTof' 'any ■ size, on terms to suit everyone. This noble property is situated within twenty minutes' walk of the tram terminus, or' within ten'minutes' 'drive. Bounded on the north' by the 'Town Belt, on the south by,•lsland Bay; being'so bounded the ■property--wiU always have a park-like entrance, terminated by the ocean,. whence are grand Views of the snow-cfad' 'mountains of Kaikoura, entrance to Wellington harbour, and all vessels are seen steaming and sailing to and fro. The beach is all that can be desired, and the pretty bay is nearly, all the year r6und sufficiently smooth for boating, as shown from the number'of fishing boats on it. It is good fishing ground, and crayfish abound in large quantities. With the progress'of Wellington, Island BiJy must participate. The property is admitted to be the prettiest and most approachable suburb of Wellington. A good carriage road is already made from the harbour to the bay, where thousands resort a"t j holiday time, and all the year round I picnic parties are seen wending their ■way to the delightful and Bteaven-blest spot. Merchants, professional gentlemen, Government officials, and mercantile employees will, -in the natural course of _ progress, have to seek suburban, residences, and Island Bay will be the chosen spot."