IMPORTANT TO FIREMEN.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1224, 30 October 1874, Page 2

IMPORTANT TO FIREMEN.

[southern mercury.] Firemen who are summoned on juries must make their application for exemption before they are sworn. Recently a juryman handed in his certificate, but not until he had taken ••he oath, and his Honor consequently told him he must but he relented a few minutes afterwards, and let the man off. For the benefit of those who are firemen, ami who may happen to be summoned on juries, we print the following clause from the Act passed during the last session of the House ot Representatives. It will be seen that no fireman can claim su.ch exemption unless he is a working member, and unless he has been in such a position for at least twelve months. The clause in question says:— " If an}' person, summoned nnder the said Act, to appear and serve as a juror, shall produce to the Judge of the Court at which he shall have been so summoned to appear & certificate under the hand of a fire inspector, or of a captain or other principal of the Volunteer Fire Brigade, to the effect that such person is an active member of a Volunteer Fire Brigade, and has regularly attended the meeting of such brigade for practice or drill for a period of not less than 12 months before the sitting of the Court at which he has been summoned to appear as aforesaid, and has otherwise observed the rules and regulations of the said brigade in respect to attendance at drill and at fires ; and if such person shall claim to be excused or discharged from attending and serving as a juror, by reason of his being an active member of a Volunteer Fire Brigade : and the Judge of the Court at which such person shall have been summoned to appear shall thereupon excuse and discharge such person from further attendance at that sitting of the Court, and in respect of the summons requiring him to appear and serve as a juror." The next clause says :—" And any officer giving a certificate containing a false statement shall forfeit not more than £2O, nor less than £5 ; and any person claiming exemptien under such certificate, and knowing the same to be false, shall forfeit not more than £SO, nor less than £10."