THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1281, 9 November 1911, Page 6

THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.

OPPOSITION CRITICISM. REPLY DY SIR JOHN FINDLAY. Mil. MASSKY'S RKJOINDKK. lily Tclcitroch.—l'rcDß Association.) Auckland, Novcinlxir 8. Sir John l'imlby, addressing Iho electors of I'lirnell to-night, rcpln.d to alle--I'iiliniifi Hindu by Mr. Jiiinos Allen at MilU)i). ll<> mid ho lind tor some, ywirs occupied tlm jinsiliim of Minister for Jusliee, nnil hud tried to do credit to liiin-m-11, mid lo his (illico. Ho invited anyone to point to any single well-founded instance »f nmlndminihlniMon. Mr. Alien hud stated that justice in this Wintry wns neither cleun nor «w«el. "lo migKCsl," said Hir John Kindlny, 'that the iidiniiiisl.nil.ion of justice is not sweet mid clean is n calumny against tho honourable men against whom the asporslun was aimed, whether they were magistrates or Supremo Court Judges.' Sir John l'indlay described Mr. Aliens uttcrnncos as a dastardly attack on men who held high positions. Another aspect of Mr. AHmi'h charges, which amounted to charges of the, very worst form §of Tammanyism, was that he was alleging corrupliu'b against somclwdy. lie, as head of the Justice Department, was tho chief target, but every ono of those mngistrntos could havo brought a charge of defamation of character against Mr. Allen, but for ono little word. "If you want to slander anyone, ho said, just put in tho word 'Boine,' and you are sale. (Laughter.) Mr. Allen says: '1 am not referring to all the magistrates, but (o soino of them.' Which of tho magistrates came within the meaning of that word 'some'? Hut that is a sample of the criticism of which wo have been hearing a good deal from the Opposition. Xhe last refuge of a beaten critic is liko tho subterfuge of a beaten lawyer— 'no case, abuse tho other side'." (Applause and laughter.)

PAYMENTS TO JUDGES. STATEMENT BY MR. MASSEY. Iliy TeluEraph.-SDedal Correspondent.! Pukekohe, November 8. The subject of payments t'o Judges of tho Supreme Court for special services was again discussed by Mr. W. F. MasK5 (Leader of the Opposition) in his speech at Patumahoo tuis evening. The views expressed by members of the Reform party on this question were 'described b.T Sir John Findlay at' Mount Eden last evening as allegations of judicial corruption, and Mr. Massey took occasion to explain once more his attitude. Sir John findlay declared that it was no new thing to pay Judges for special work. There was a precedent , for it in England, Australia, and New Zealand. He is reported to have stated that money was voted for such services by Parliament, and there was never a breath of such scandalous charges until the wretched agitation in connection with tho Hino allegations, was brought forward. "I should like to think," said Mr. Massey, "that Sir John Findlay was ignorant of Iho true position when he made those statements. The fact is that Opposition members drew attention to these payments t'o Judges years before the Hine charges were ever hoard of, and the Parliamentary records will show that we recorded ou'r opinion on the subject. There were no scandalous charges—no charges nt all except those against the Government it , *;!/." Mr. M.TSsey explained that the payments ivhich were the particular subject of complaint were those of .£4019 to Sir Robert Stout , , and of £945 to tho Hon. A. T. Npita for (heir services on tho Land Commission, in addition to their salaries, and in connection with the statutes compilation the payments of between iiUOO and .EISOO to Sir Robert Stent. "I do not attack Sir Robert Stout; noIwdy has done mi," Mγ. Masscy explained. "But what I do say is that even if Sir Robert Stout is the most , honest and straightforward man in New Zealand—l do not say he is not— these payments are improper." (Hear, lienr.) Mr. Massc.v also recorded his objection to the payment of special remuneration to members of tho House of Representatives as essentially wrong and lending to interfere with tho independence of members; in tho same way the independence of the Judicial Bench would bs sapped if tho system of special remuneration were not stopped. (Applause.)