SUPPRESSION OF NAMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 461, 17 September 1928, Page 8

SUPPRESSION OF NAMES

MAGISTRATE’S USE OF PRIVILEGE “TO ALLEVIATE AND ASSIST” “I look on the suppression of names as a palliative and not as a | right. I use it to ease a punishment or to assist the unfortunate,” said Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Police Court this morning. Mr. R. A. Singer, who appeared for a young man acquitted on a serious charge, asked for suppression of name. “You suppressed the name of a woman shop-lifter the other day,” he said. "I would suggest that it is more important that a shopkeeper should know who is likely to steal his goods than that thousands of people should know that serious allegations have been made against an innocent young man.” In reply to Mr. Hunt's expression of opinion in regard to suppression, counsel said that it was the very principle he had been trying to hammer into the Courts since the Act was passed. Mr. Hunt: In this case the man’s youth is an important factor. Mr. Singer: Nevertheless, 1 may have to ask in the future for suppression of older peoples’ names. The legislation is general, and the Court has no right to lay down a rule and order suppression > merely for the young. “I do not bind myself to any rule,” said Mr. Hunt. “All I say is that youth has life before it. When I nsed to defend these people they used to say that they did not care much what happened as long as their names were kept out of the papers.” i Mr. Singer: That is so. I have often heard it said, ‘Can you give the reporters a few shillings?’, but I have never known that to be of any avail.