N.S.W. COAL TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1930, Page 5

N.S.W. COAL TROUBLE

CHARGES DISMISSED

(Australian Press Association)

SYDNEY, Feb. 19,

The prosecutions against the members of parliament, Messrs James and Badeley, on the- charge of using insulting words to the police on the coalfields, failed to-day.

The Magistrate’s, two of whom were local Justices, held that the words used were trifling. The cases were dismissed.

DID JUSTICE MISCARRY?

(Received this dav at 10 a.m.)

SYDNEY, Feb,

It is rumoured that though they were acquitted at Karri on charges of using insulting words to the police at Cessnook on 18th November, Mr Baddeley, member of the State Assembly and Mr James, a Federal representutiie, 'will probably Jieai more of the matter.

The Chief Secretary is calling for reports of the case. He says it is a most extraordinary verdict, and in the interests of justice the matter cannot he allowed to remain where it is. Apparently out of the three members forming the Court, one found the charge proved and two decided to dismiss the case. It R strange that Justices of the Peace should sit oil the Bench in the ciicumstances.

It is pointed out two of the Justices in question arc presidents of branches of the Australian Labour Party. It is officially explained that outside Stipendiary Magistrates’ districts. any Justice of tbe Peace has

tho right to sit on the Bench with the Police Magistrate, and in such cases the verdict goes hv a majority.