NO RIGHT OF APPEAL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 75, 15 April 1937, Page 12

NO RIGHT OF APPEAL

-Presn Rsaooiation.)

Business Men and AntiProfiteermg Act APPEAL TO MINISTER

(By

Telegraph -

WELLINGTON, Last Night. Advice that he was not prepared to inake any recommendation to the Government that the Prevention of Profiteering Act be amended to provide for the right to appeal, was conveyed by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hdn. D. G. Sullivan, to yesterday's meeting of the executivf of the AssOciafed Chambers of Commerce' of New Zealand. It was feported that the association had explained to the Minister that it appreciated the fact that both the Minister and his department nbeded to be satisfied on all reasonable grounds before pfoeecdings were instituted, that an offence had been committed, but it took a rather differeiit view of the provision which he stated to be another safeguard, namely, that a magistrate, with the responsibility of knowing that his decision was final, would be more meticulous when placed in the position that no appeal to a higher court was permissible. The association affirmed its very great respect for the magistracy of the Dominion, but contended that there might be better guarantee of meticulous deeisions by the knowledge that such deeisions could be made the sub jeet of appeal. The Minister advised that he had given further consxderation to the matter and to the principle involved, but was still of opinion that the provisions of the Act as to proeedure adequately safeguarded the position and dispensed with the necessity of providing for appeals to a higher court. The meeting commented on the legiglative practice of denying the right of appeal, an omission which was to be noted in statutes old and new. The right of appeal was an impOrtant constitutional right which should be jealously guarded and not lightly taken away or eVen seriously infringed. It was Tesolved to bring the matter before the next annual conference of the association.