SERVICE ON JURIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 303, 17 May 1911, Page 5

SERVICE ON JURIES.

A NEW CROI'NI) FOR EXEMPTION. Hy Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurel), May A new ground for exemption from service on a jury was raised by .Mr. (Jcorge li. Evans, summoned as juror at the Supreme Court this morning. The ground in question was that he was a member of the Territorial Force. His Honor: I know of a great number of persons being excused from service as jurors—members of fire brigades, for instance. You say that being a Territorial excuses you? Mr. Evans: According to the Defence Act, sir. Mr. T. W. Stringer, K.C., Crown Prosecutor, upon looking lip the Defence Act at the request of his Honor, said that under section 101 of the Act all members of the Defence Force, except members of defence rifle clubs, were absolved from serving on juries. Mr. Stringer said that when the defence system came into full play there would be 110 jurymen at all. His Honor said the provision had simply been put in as ail indulgence, but it had the effect of robbing them of the best men on the jury. The names of Territorials were on the jury list, and so would lead to trouble and confusion, and the result would be that they would uot have enough men to serve on juries, Mr. Evans was absolved from service.