SUPPRESSION OF NAMES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3775, 3 April 1928, Page 3

SUPPRESSION OF NAMES.

AUCKLAND MAGISTRATE’S DICTUM. * Auckland, L'as't Night. Asked to suppress names in two cases in the Police Court in which drivers of motor ears were charged with driving while in a state of intoxication, Mr Cutten, S.M., refused the applications, saying that the reasons given were not sufficient, the Magistrate justifying a different action in tjie case of a doctor similarly charged last week. Counsel for Kinder, said his client was not a drunkard, nor a teetotaller. He held a good position, and his mother was ill. Mr Sullivan said that Osborne was a respectable working man and a citizen. He had never been convicted of any offence. The Magistrate fined each defendant £5. Referring to the criticism of his action in suppressing the name of a doctor on Monday, the Magistrate said the young man made one slip and publication of his name might have led to ruination of his whole career. He thought in that case suppression was justified. ■ln the present two cases he thought the chief consideration in the application was the feelings of the two defendants. He could not imagine when the facts were published showing such mild cases that they would lead to the motor engineer losing his position.