The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) MONDAY, JULY 8, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5391, 8 July 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) MONDAY, JULY 8, 1878.

Wu reprint from the May number of the “ New Zealand Jurist” an article bn the Parliamentary prosecution of Citizen Gbouob Jones for libel, and with reference to the now celebrated bill of costa in that case, and to the fees and refreshers claimed by tbp “liberal” members of the House of Representatives for professional services in the cause of virtue and innocence as typified by the “ Oamarn Mail.” It is satisfactory to learn that the •'‘refreshers” in both instances have been docked by the taxing officer, and the whole claim reduced by the taxing process to the sum of £l4Ol 9s. Bd. About ono-third of the original demand, £716 4s. 4d., has thus been struck off. ‘ Wo do not know whether, professionally, it would bo hold to bo improper to have made a claim which could bo authoritatively reduced to that extent. To the lay mind, however, there is a certain awkwardness about it. Ours may be Un ethical or sentimental view of a proceeding which had, not a sordid object but was only intended to inculcate the great lesson that it is quite futile for the House of Representatives to attempt to restrain the sacred freedom of the Press, either in regard to' the Assembly itself as a whole, or to the public action or tbe private affairs of individual .members,—and to enforce this lesson by the argumentum ad crumenam in the shape of costs. Indeed, it Citizen Jones had pleaded in justification, that what he had written was not more libellous than that whioU honorable gentlemen are, by privilege of Parliament, constantly in the habit i of saying of and to each other, and that,,he was following the example set by Sir George Grey, Mr. Bees, and other members, probably such a plea might have been made to hold water, technically, when the other attempts failed. It would at any rate, oh broad moral

grounds, have secured a ready acquiescence from the jury in Court, as well as the public out of Court. Not the least remarkable of the items in the “ little bill"'as it was originally presented, were those , which had reference to the “jury'list.” Our contemporary, the Dunedin “ Morning Herald,,” noted that on the 3rd March, the following charge was made :

Jury list having been sent; going carefully through same with you; attending on - various persons a’s to jury .. '..£220 March 4. Attending Messrs. Stout and Reed: submitting list, and conferring thereon; long attendance 110 March's. Having received list from Messrs, Hisiop and Creagh with instructions; perusing, &c., &c .. .. 0C 8 Attending Messrs. Eeed and Fenwick; conferring -. ~ 013 4

The jury was, we believe, a special jury, and the “striking” was made, no doubt, by the proper, officer in the regular course as provided by law. The process is, wo believe, that forty-eight names are taken from the jury list by lot, the number is reduced by selectkm on the part of the prosecution and of the defence, alternately, to twenly-four j and out of that panel twelve are taken in Court. Dunedin juries have acquired, in some recent instances, an unenviable celebrity, and wo gather generally that there is not iu that city so perfect a faith in that palladium of liberty as might be desired/. It is a popular error, undoubtedly, but it is a common one, to suppose that au adverse judgement cannot be obtained in Dunedin under any circumstances against certain enterprising citizens or their friends, who belong to a social stratum described as the “ring.” We are curious to know why Sir George Grey’s oppressed little children should be taxed to pay for a conference with Messrs. Reed and Fenwick as to a jury” for Citizen George Jones. The 'Jurist 'thinks, and this opinion will meet with general concurrence, that, three hundred guineas having been the highest fee heretofore heard of in New Zealand, there has not been cause shown in Court or elsewhere for exceptional recognition of the forensic ability of Mr. Jones’s advocate by giving him five hundred guineas. But vaunting patriotism and incorruptible public.: virtue are expensive hobbies to ride, and gentlemen who keep a large stable, as a rule, lose no opportunity of securing forage allowance when it can be got. We still hope that,, notwithstanding the Jones’ hill having been taxed and reduced, it will not be paid until the representatives of the people shall have voted the money after consideration of all the circumstances, and amongst them the question of disqualification raised in regard to Mr. Hislor. There are probably some persons who would not be surprised to find that the, interest of that honorable gentleman in the “Oamaru Mail” is not confined to personal friendship for, and admiration of, the editor.