INQUIRY TO BE HELD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 November 1940, Page 7

INQUIRY TO BE HELD

INTO CONDUCT OF POLICE INVESTIGATIONS. IN CASE COMMENTED ON BY CHIEF JUSTICE. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) WELLINGTON, This Day. The intention of the Government to have an inquiry held into the conduct of the police investigations in a case which came before the Chief Justice in the Supreme Court, Wellington, on Wednesday, was announced by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser. The case was one of a young womqn who had pleaded guilty of permitting the unlawful use of an instrument and attempting to conceal a birth. The following comments by the Chief Justice were quoted by Mr Fraser from the newspaper report of the proceedings: "This case calls lot strict inquiry. It calls, in my opinion, for something more than departmental inquiries. I don't intend to prejudge it in any way. I cannot do that. I do not know the various sides of it, but it calls for inquiry by a competent tribunal of men who know something about, the conduct of justice in criminal cases." Mr Fraser said that in view of the serious nature of the comment he fel* it his duty to lose no time in informing the House and the country that an inquiry would be held at the earliest possible opportunity. That was not to be construed as a reflection on the police officers concerned or on the Police Force generally, but as the matter had been raised in such a pointed form the sooner it was cleared up the better for all concerned.