BILLS EXPLAINED

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1933, Page 5

BILLS EXPLAINED

POOR PRISONERS

TERM OF SCriOOL COMMITTEES

(Pei Press Association, Copyright).

WELLINGTON, December 13

The Legislative '.Council yesterday passed the 'Money-lenders’ Amendment Bill, Summer Time Amendment Bill, and Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill,

In the House of "(Representatives the Education Amendment Bill, and Poor Prisoners’ Defence Bill were introduced by Governor-General’s mesattge wren the House resumed at'7.3o p.m. Explaining the latter measure tha 'Hon.', J. G. Oobbe (Minister of Justice) said ‘it was an amendment to the Justices of the Peace 4)ct, which g:ve prisoners in poor circumstances, who were charged with a criminal offence, the righ£ to apply for counsel. However, under the Act, a prisoner had that right, only if he set out his defence in writing, with his signature attached. That document was available to the Crown Prosecutor, and prisoner was thus placed at a disadvantage be-; cause the nature of - his .defence- was known to the prosecution. On "the other ■hand, a prisoner who had means, cO- : ld engage counsel* in the ordinary way, and did riot have to disclose his defc’-'.cu until called upop.'to answer the charts. The bill proposed , id giv* a. '.prisoner in poor circumstances the right to hr.va counsel assigned to him without hni having to. disclose his defence, . A similar. law had been passed by the British Parliament. 1 , The (bill was read a first time.

Explaining the Education. Amendment Bill, the Premier (the Hon. G. W. Forbes), said it proposed to extend the term of office of school committees fr'»m one year to two. It had' been introduced at the request of (the School Committees’ Association, . which had contended that the longer term would result in better continuity of policy. The bill was read a first time. . The Municipal Corporations Bill was parsed without* amendment. The House rose at i. 45 a.m.