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Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1928, Page 2

LEGAL CONFERENCE. Christchurch, April 12. The legal conference to-dav discussed a motion by Mr M. .1. Orosson : .“That it is desirable that the law should he amended (1) To forbid the publication of evidence in the Lower Court in all yapital eases ; (2) To restrict the publication of evidence in divorce cases to the names of the parties, the grounds of the petition, arid the result.” In support of the first part of the motion. Mr Gresson submitted that the publication of the evidence in capital eases before the Supreme Court stage was reached, though intended for the protection of an accused, operated to his disadvantage, as it was impossible to expect jurymen not to have been influenced by the case for the prosecution when there was no cross-examination of witnesses. As to the second portion of the reolution, lie considered there was no moral purpose served in giving details in divorce proceedings. The first portion of Mr Gresson’s motion was withdrawn, and the following motion by Mr Myers was carried: “That the practice that has grown in recent years only of Crown and police prosecutions in certain places making an opening address to the Lower Court in indictable cases, is in the opinion of the conference wrong, and not in the interests oi justice, and that the Attorney-Gen-eral be requested to direct the cessation of the practice.”