XN000022-1994-04-29 — Page 14

FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 1994

12

MINOR AND TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO LEGAL SYSTEM PROPOSED

THE

OF

ΤΟ PROVISIONS RELATING A NUMBER OF LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE THAT WERE FOUND TO BE OBSOLETE, IN NEED

THE BILL OF MINOR CORRECTION OR IMPROVEMENT, OR INCONSISTENT WITH

OF JUSTICE RIGHTS WILL BE REPEALED OR AMENDED IF THE ADMINISTRATION (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) BILL 1994 IS ENACTED.

ATTORNEY "MINOR,

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT SAID IN 1992 THE

WITH DEAL GENERAL PROPOSED

PREPARED TO THAT A BILL BE TECHNICAL AND NON-CONTROVERSIAL" AMENDMENTS RELATING SYSTEM.

TO THE LEGAL

ASSOCIATION, DEPARTMENTS LEADING ΤΟ THE

A GENERAL CIRCULAR WAS SENT TO THE JUDICIARY, BAR LAW SOCIETY, DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AID AND VARIOUS GOVERNMENT ΤΟ

SEEK PROPOSALS. MANY SUGGESTIONS WERE RECEIVED, PROPOSALS OUTLINED IN THE PROPOSED BILL.

THE

GAZETTED TODAY,

WILL

BE

THE

INTO INTRODUCED BILL, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MAY 11. IT PROPOSES THE ABOLITION OF ASSESSORS IN THE MAGISTRACY, MARINE MAGISTRATES, AND SPECIAL JURIES.

то ASSESSORS

SIT WITH THE SPOKESMAN SAID

FOR PROVISION

WAS MAGISTRATES HEARING CRIMINAL CASES WAS INTRODUCED IN 1978, WHICH

BE APPOINTED то INTENDED AS A MEASURE WHEREBY LOCAL PERSONS COULD ASSIST NEWLY APPOINTED EXPATRIATE MAGISTRATES.

BUT THE EXPERIMENT WAS NOT A GREAT SUCCESS, HE SAID.

A CRIMINAL THE LAST OCCASION UPON WHICH AN ASSESSOR SAT UPON TRIAL WAS IN MARCH 1988. MOREOVER, THE NUMBER OF LOCAL MAGISTRATES HAD INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN RECENT YEARS, THUS DIMINISHING THE NEED FOR ASSESSORS,

BE

PROVISIONS FOR THE REPEALED,"

THE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT

TRIALS IN THE MAGISTRACY CRIMINAL

"IN

ASSESSORS IN SPOKESMAN SAID.

SIMILARLY, HE SAID THERE WAS NO RECORD IN THE LAST THAT A MARINE MAGISTRATE HAD EXERCISED JURISDICTION.

20 YEARS

"AS THE INSTITUTION NO LONGER FULFILS ANY USEFUL PURPOSE, IT IS

THE SPOKESMAN SAID, RECOMMENDED THAT IT BE ABOLISHED,

PARTICULAR

AS REGARDS SPECIAL JURIES COMPRISING PERSONS WITH A SKILL, EXPERIENCE OR STANDING IN THE COMMUNITY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE LAST OCCASION THAT A SPECIAL JURY WAS SUMMONED WAS FOR INQUEST IN 1984.

A CORONER'S

**

IT

IS

AND

CONSIDERED

SHOULD

THE THAT BE ABOLISHED,

SPECIAL

HE

JURY

SAID,

AND ELITIST

THAT THE

IS ADDING

UNNECESSARY, INSTITUTION HAD ALREADY BEEN ABOLISHED IN ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA.

CARGO

UNDER EXISTING PROVISIONS, TALLYCLERKS (THOSE WHO TALLY

AND MARINE IN AND OUT OF SHIPS), AUCTIONEERS, MARINE STORES DEALERS HAWKERS ARE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN LICENCES TO CARRY ON THEIR TRADES.

/THE BILL