ELSIE WALKER CASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40011, 17 October 1929, Page 2

ELSIE WALKER CASE.

RE-OPENING THE INQUEST

MINISTER'S REFUSAL TO ACT,

PETITION TO PARLUMENT

Auckland, October 16

Having received advice from the Minister of Justice, the Hon. T. M. Wilford, that he does not intend to introduce legislation to amend the Coroners’ Act so as to permit inquests to be reopened, the Auckland branch of the National Council of AVtomen has decided to promote a petition asking Parliament to take action in the .matter. The petition is now 'being prepared and it is hoped to obtain the first signatures on Friday and to present the petition dining the current session of Parliament.

At its last meeting the branch passed a resolution urging the Government to amend the Act so that it would 'be possible to reopen the Elsie Walker inquest, and the president, Miss Carnachan, and Miss Melville were deputed to bring it before the Minister of Justice. As they were unable to arrange an interview when they were in Wlellingtou last week the Minister was written to and lie has forwarded a reply stating that, as the matter has been fully considered, it is not proposed to introduce legislation in the direction suggested. Similar advice has been received by the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Society for the Protection of Women and Children, which has decided to call a public meeting to discuss tb Cease of Elsie Walker. The meeting is to be held in 'the Town Hall concert chamber next Monday or Tuesday evening' find kindred societies are to be asked to give their co-operation.

An appeal will then be issued to the public ‘to join in the representations which are again being made tu the Minister. It is the endea- \ our of tiie society to have the new legislation, introduced during the present session of Parliament, so that the Elsie Walker inquest can be reopened as soon as /possible if the appeal is successful.

The president of the society, the Rev. P. S. /Smallfleld, states that the society is in possession of'information which was given to one of its inspectors by persons who were not called at the inquest. This information has been given to the police, together with a typed statement.