SUPPRESSION OF NAMES

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1925, Page 4

SUPPRESSION OF NAMES

VIKWS OK A l-iiOIiATiOX OK KICK It. WKUJXOTUX, Juno 17. If there is duo inierestad party qli a I hied in express ;m opinion regarding ih' suppression ol nflendcrs’ names. that individual is Mr 'i'. P. Milts, local prohation olliecr, who was -no ol' (lie movin'! spirii- in framing the legislation tviiich was <!■ iuge! ie oitt' another chttnco to a youngster guilty of his first lapse. Power In suppress names in criminal eases is oil.m to .Magistrates in Section oof •he Olfender.s Pri’hation Act. lh".!0. with h -ei rat the following pro', i--i. ~ : ■■ |i aav •■•arson acetl-sd of an oft'eiuv within the meaning of this A, t has n,it previously been eouvieted ol line olfenee. the Conrt may prohihit the puhlieation of his name in air. report or an mint of Ins arrest, tri-l ‘"Oiviei ion. or of he- relca- ' on probation." 'I he late Air C. K. Matthew-;. I'ikl rS'eereiary of thee Department of .Tustire. who framed the Act, consul tell several experienced probation nflieors, from whom he tiained a nnndier ol suggestions. The extract quoted above was the basis of a suggestion from .Mr Mills. who discussed toe question fully with the late Mr Matthews before the clause was embodied in the Act and confirmed by Parliament. "It was recognised at the time.’ said Mr Mills to-dav. “that with sulficlent in 111 ace a mini" could he .sun-pros-cd in a newspaper. 'lbis was done solely t lirotiixli influential friends, who iufrviewed an ediior. It ca'n easily he seen how perhaps a less

fortunate hut more worthy person might sillier in comparison. To help this latter elass the clause was originally designed, and it was thought that eei'tain female oflenders and an oilierwise exemplary youth just beyond the juvenile stage, who had made the one slip of his life, and the person who was mentally affected, either temporarily or perma 'mill ly. were all subjects for eo’i-.iiler.i! ioii. provided that suspicion would not rest ml anyone else by the suppr<‘ssiou of the mini'’. It is obvious that the clause does not apply to an offender who may lie churned with more than one olfeiiee. although it may he ids lir.st nppeurnmo before the Court. In my opinion, the Court has no |-. hut to suppress a name other than for a genuinely lirst ami only olfeiiee. The Court, which is in possession ol all the tacts, is eertninly the best judge in the matter. The Press is accordingly relieved of the resi)on:,ihilitv of inflicting wrong on anyone who. through lack ot Iriends, deserves more sympathy. The fairness of the Press in New Zealand was never questioned, the object ol the Act 1 ieino to safeguard a person • against a sometimes ungenerous and vindicilive public, and also ae.aiiist a possible future yellow newspaper. This very humane safeguard, if wisely used, helfis the lame doe oi er the style without .sacrificial! the public interest, and amongst other things prevents the imposition of some distorted tale on the sympathies of busy editors.’’ urs- rr-vsrr. g-sjtawyi&sfS*?