SUPPRESSION OF NAME

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1926, Page 1

SUPPRESSION OF NAME

MAGISTRATE’S REFUSAL. []3Y TELEGIUrn—PER I’BESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, September 23. An important pronouncement was made by Mr AY. R. McKean, S.M., at the police court this morning on the question of the suppression of names. Ali- A. S. Brown, who appeared for a youth who was charged with the theft of a telescope,, stated that the accused had never been in trouble before, and came of respectable parents. Counsel asked the Magistrate if he would consider an application lor the suppression of the accused’s name. “ The accused is old enough to know better. I am not prepared to lay down any rule for the suppression ol names,” said Mr McKean. “Before an order For suppression is made, there must he some special circumstance made known to tho Court. In this ease, there are none, excepting perhaps the one that the licensed is only 20 years of age. There is no doubt that publicity acts as a greater deterrent than any fine I could inflict. Another thing about the suppression of names is that it often causes great injustice to innocent persons. Kccently Aiere was the case of a woman who was convicted ol shoplifting in this court. .Her name was ordered to he suppressed. Since then, it has come to the knowledge of tliis Court that a well-Kiiown solicitor in Auckland, with a name similar to that of the accused woman, was rumoured to be the woman’s husband, and it has been alleged that he used his influence with the court, causing the iKir.ie of the shoplifter to he suppressed.” ' '<

“Such a tiling, he said, would not he tolerated by this court.” The magistrate continued: —1 might say, quite definitely, that the solicitor whose wife had been thought to lie the woman charged was in no way, connected with the ease. It was not his wife.” Mr McKean told Brown that if he acceded to his request, he would have to accede to any similar requests made to the court. He did not propose to make any order for suppression, for it was desirable that the deterrent effect should he made. first aid for coughs, colds and influenza Wood,’ Great Peppermint Cure. —