AN IMPORTANT JUDGMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 16 March 1907, Page 3

AN IMPORTANT JUDGMENT.

\V. P. CRICK'S EXPULSION 1-KOiI ; PAKljlamknt HiOLD TO BE ILLEGAL. J : Received 15, 11.45 p.lll. , Sydney, March 15. The Full Court giue judgment in the case of W. P. Crick versus the Sergeant-at-Arms fur assauit, in removing Crick from the House of Representatives under a Standing Order specially adopted to deal with plaintill's expulsion. The Ctuef Justice held the fact that a criminal charge was pending against a member in no affected the course of business in the Chamber, wa3 in no way an obstruction of business, and in no way affected the orderly conduct of the House. Mow, then, could the House step in and say a charge, of which plain'tiff might he innocent or guilty, had been brought, and therefore suspend him until his innocence was established, and so ignore the rights of his constituents and disfranchise them. Judgment must pass for plaiatlff. JUDGE PRING DISSENTS. A PECULIAR SITUATION CREATED. Received 15, 11.45 p.m. * Sydney, March 15. Justice Pring dissented from the judgment, holding that the Standing Order had the foree of the law; that the Court had no right to inquire as to its validity, and if the Court had the power it would takei from the Assembly the power of regulating its business.