A COMPLIANT

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1931, Page 5

A COMPLIANT

BY CHIEF JUSTICE,

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association;

WELLINGTON, December 4

The attitude of certain newspapers in failing to publish his statement, issued recently, on the subject of the non-publication of the names of counsel in the reports of Court proceedings, was commented upon by Sir M. Myers, (Chief Justice, at the hearing of the Coats appeal in the 'Court of Appeal to-day. l-iis Honour’s comment was in reply to a suggestion made by the 'second counsel for Coats, that the Court, perhaps, might think it. desirably it Q make some observations on, the question of taking of statements from the accused and other people which might be of use in other quarters. “What is the use of making a statement unless the Court is assisted oy the press?” asked the Chief Justice. His Honour said that he might have been correct, or not, but nevertheless he hud had a statement -made in Court upon the matter. He thought, rightly or wrongly, that it was in the public | interest. It was published in two daily newspapers in Wellington, and was, no doubt-, telegraphed right throughout the country, but other newspapers chose to ignore it. “Now, what is the use of judges making observations on matters of public interest if their statements, which are made in the belief that they are in the public interest, are ignored by the press? What is the use,” added His Honour, “of a Judge making any statement in regard to the constitution of th'e Court of Criminal Appeal? I don’t suppose any notice could be taken of it.”