SIR MICHAEL MYERS’ VIEWS ON JUSTICES OF PEACE CRITICISED

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 March 1947, Page 4

SIR MICHAEL MYERS’ VIEWS ON JUSTICES OF PEACE CRITICISED

S.M. OBJECTS TO WORD “SADISM” (P A.) Nelson, March 4. The strong attack made some time ago by the former Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) on two justices of the peace who imposed what appeared to be a heavy penalty on men who had escaped from custody, was criticised by Mr. T. E. Maunsell, S.M., when addressing tiie conference of the Federation of New Zealand Justices' Associations in Nelson to-day.

Mr. Maunsell expressed the opinion that in al tacking the justices as he had done the Chief Justice had shown an eiror of judgment.

"1 had considerable sympathy for the two justices, who, some time ago, were very strongly attacked by the former Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, for imposing what appeared to be a very heavy sentence in respect of a charge of escaping from custody," said Mr Maunsell. The Chief Justica had accused those justices of sadism, having in mind experiences >n Germany and Japan in recent years. The wold "sadism” was a very ugly one. With great respect to the cx-Chiet Justice it seemed to the speaker that Sir Michael had made a mistake himself. An accusation’of sadism had an implication of malpractice . Th* speaker would have preferred to say it was an honest error of judgment on the part of the justices. He thought the Chief Justice had made an error of judgment in attacking the two men, wito had no means of defending themselves. Mr. Maunsell added that he felt justified in expressing his sympathy with the two justices concerned.

Gratitude for the good work being done by justices of the peace in the interests of society was expressed by tlie Minister of Justice (Mr. Mason) when officially opening the confercnee.