PLACED ON HONOUR

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1079, 17 September 1930, Page 10

PLACED ON HONOUR

IS OATH ESSENTIAL IN COURT? AUCKLAND OPINIONS “A man who goes into the witnessbox is on his honour to tell the truth, and I don’t think that the oath is absolutely essential.” commented StaffCaptain Holmes, of the Salvation Army, upon the outburst of a Sydne: magistrate, who described the oath as a “blasphemous formality.” A cabled report of Air. M. J. McMahon’s, S.M.. statement in _i e Redfera Court stated: “I suppose 95 p*r cent of witnesses are untruthful, and the oath is simply inviting them jo commit blasphemy. I think it would bo very much better if the oath wore abolished. It would make no diffci” -ence to justice.” Staff-Captain Holmes, who is in: - mately associated with the court a Auckland, did not agree that the os hi was an invitation to blasphemy, as :ie doubted if the majority of witness- *• went into the box deliberately to t - untruths. “One must have a kno * ledge of facts to give evidence.’ ' stated. He believed that the piac. - of witnesses on their honour to t the truth without having to take t ,e oath would work quite satisfactorily Mr. F. K. Hunt, Policfc Court ma?:** trate, was brief in his comment. 1 • oath has become an institution of 1 , court through generations of usage, a - there is no use in dispensing r" r No comment was made by Air. iCutten. S.M., and All*. W. R. Mcke. S.AI.. whose opinions were also ; ; “If the oath was done awwy . where would we be?” asked Annie Gordon, of the Salvation at. who is the female probation office. • Auckland. If a witness is caught u - ing untruths he or she can be a with by the court.” Major Gordon a dared that one of the greatest t - thev were up against today was \, truthfulness. “It’s simply awful he she added. In any case. Major was very doubtful whether the istrate had made the statement. .. she thought would be extraordina for a man in his position. . i T “There is an atmosphere of about the present procedure. rema . the Rev. Russell A. AllertOT* • - f pointed out that a large PeePf'J the people today were not reail L. ‘ r tians. While he could not w , 5 suggestion to replace the oath, under the impression that « could avoid taking it on the B making a declaration.