VERBATIM REPORTS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1931, Page 5

VERBATIM REPORTS

JUDGES’ SUMMING-UP. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) AVELLINGTON August 10. “I t appears to me essential, in the interests of justice, that provision should be made for having a verbatim report of the summing up in every criminal trial taken bv a competent and independent shorthand writer,” stated Mr Justice MacGregor in a reserved judgment delivered, together with those of the Chief' Justice, Sir Michael Myers, and of Mr Justice Herdman, in the Court of Appeal yesterday. The case was one in which the summing up of Mr Justice Blair, in a criminal case, was in question. Full notes of the summing up were not before the Court.

“Most of the questions of law reserved under section 442 of the Crimes Act arise directly or indirectly out of the summing up delivered.by the judge who presided at the trial,” Mr Justice MacGregor said. “It is impossible for a Court of Appeal critically to consider such a summing up unless there is placed before it the actual words in which the jury were directed. In the present case it is obvious that a large part of the summing up is not now before the court, at all. How, then, can we he expected adequately to review it P” „ ' i i#i. .-'vdw.