PUBLICATION OF NAMES

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2934, 10 September 1925, Page 3

PUBLICATION OF NAMES

JUDGE UPHOLDS RIGHTS OP PRESS. Auckland, Sept. 8. The opinion that the power of suppressing names in Court eases was too frequently induldged in in Auckland, was expressed by MrJustice Alpers in the Supreme Court to-day, when he was asked to prohibit the publication of the names of two women, plaintiff and defendant, in a dispute over the management of a boarding house. Mr. Towle, counsel for plaintiff, suggested at the commencement of the case that His Honour might order the suppression of both names to prevent injury to the business. Mr. Singer, for defendant, submitted that there was no matter of public interest in the ease, and held that publicity would mean ruination for the parties, whoso entire pavings had been invested in the boarding house. His Honour: Any lawsuit involving commercial interests is upon to suggestion that a business may be damaged. I do not see how a lodging-house can be placed on other than a business footing. I am very jealous of the absolute right of the Press to report with discretion. I have been too many years at journalism myself not to value the rights of the profession. In this case I do not doubt the Press will exercise discretion, but I do nojt think I have reason to prohibit publication of the names of the parties. - After hearing further contentions by counsel, His Honour said that in this case it was in the interests Of both parties that the name of the boarding-house should not be published. He would not go further than that. “AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT.” Auckland, September 9. The Chamber of Commerce approved the following remit to the Conference of Associated Chambers: —“That while admitting that the suppression of publication of offenders’ names, in courts may in very special circumstances be justified as faciliating the rehabilitation of first offenders, this conference is strongly of opinion that the relinquishment of so effective a deterrent to the commission of minor offences imposes a -grave disability upon the mercantile and industrial community unless applied with the utmost discretion. It is therefore reccommended that the Minister of

Justice be asked to consider the possibility of framing rules for the guidance of those responsible for giving effect to the measure, thus ensuring uniformity in its application'.”