SUPREME COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 21 August 1923, Page 2

SUPREME COURT

[nV TELEGRAPH —I’EK PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, August 21. The sessions opened 10-dav with a heavy calendar, including a murder charge in respect to the Ashburton shooting ease, -lodge Reed in his charge to the Grand Jury, expressed regret at, the length of the calendar winch included 19 pen-pus on 25 charges, one. charge of murder, one assault and causing actual bodily harm, six sexual cases, including a charge of perjury, breaking and entering and arson. Tne most seiious aspect of the calendar was the sexual eases, which belonged to a. class difficult to deal with. The offenders often siillVred from depraved sexual appetite, hut had good reputation as far as friends and neighbours know. Sending them to gaol was not a. very scientific way of dealing with them, as it was a form of mental disease lienee except when tie crime was accompanied by violence, judges hesitated to impose Hogging. Moreover, interference with young children was most often committed l>v elderly men who could not ho flogged. At the Supreme Court. Thomas Henderson Hallidav. 22 years of age, was acquitted on a charge ol arson.

Kriiest- Edward Harper was acquitted on a charge of breaking and enter-

ing. The Grand Jury to-day made the following recommendation : I hat tins Gram! Jury is of opinion that where a person has been convicted on a charge of driving a motor to the danger of the public, power should be given to n Judge or Magistrate, should the circumstances warrant it. to ptohibit such person holding a license or driving a motor in any district in the Dominion ; and that, after such prohibition. it should he a penal offence for iiiiv such person so prohibited to ditto a car or motor in the Dominion. Justice Reed said he firmly agreed with the recommendation, and hoped tho effect of it would bo .to cause legislation to he carried out in this connection.