SECRET DIVULGED

Hokitika Guardian, 11 December 1933, Page 8

SECRET DIVULGED

HOME SECRETARY’S STAND LONDON, December 3. The question whether a statement made to a policeman, is more secred that the confession of a penitent to a priest, was raised in the Court of King’s Blench yesterday. A policeman had been subpoenaed to give evidence in a civil action, and refused to produce a statement which one of the parties had signed. Mr Justice Macn§ghten expressed surprise that such a privilege was claimed.

Counsel representing the v Home Secretary, Sir Gihnour, (stated that the policeman had been sent to interview defendant on another matter. The Home Secretary claimed that U was, therefore, contrary to the pub' lie interest to divulge the statement, as the public ought to know that statements made to the police would be confidential.

Mr Justice Macnaghten: That is the claim made by priests regarding confessions, which the Court has refused to allow.

To-day, the Attorney-General, Sir Thomas Inskip, produced a letter, in which the Home Secretary argued that the production of the statement referred to would be against the public interest.

Sir Thomas explained that Sir John Gilpiour’s nttitude was final, and was not a mere bureaucratic obstruction. Sir John’s attendance in Court could be arranged, if desired, he added.