MALAY STATES

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 104, 30 October 1933, Page 11

MALAY STATES

BARRISTER ON HOLIDAY

COURT WORK IN SINGAPORE

Accompanied by his wife, Dr. C. H. Withers Payne, LL.M., LL.D. (London), barrister-at-law, of Singapore, arrived in Wellington today by the Maunganui from Sydney on a holiday trip. Dr. Payne left Singapore in September. He lias been in Australia for three or four weeks, and intends spending a month, in New Zealand. Speaking to a "Post" representative, Dr. Payne dealt briefly with the judicial system of the Federated Malay States, and provided some glimpses of the life there. '

Dr. Payne is an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Straits Settlements, author of "Succession in tho Straits Settlements," "Tho Mahomedan Laws of Succession," " Tho Shnfii Law of Inheritance," and "Digest of Cases, Straits Settlements." He is also the author of two commentaries upon the Imperial Carriage -of Uoods by Sea Act, 1924, and the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance and the Distribution Enactment (Federated Malay States). He is also honorary secretary of tho Singapore Bar Committee and honorary organist at St. Androw's Cathedral, Singapore.

Just as in New Zealand, the two branches of the profession, barristers and solicitors, are combined in the Malay States, said Dr. Payne. There was a great deal of Court work in Singapore, particularly mercantile work. Tho Court system was on the lines of that of Great Britain, there being regular assizes and so on, with appeals to tho Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. As an illustration ■of tho amount of work, he mentioned that there were five Police Courts in Singapore and two civil District Courts. Natives were concerned in. practically all the* criminal cases. ' Only barristers and solicitors who had graduated in Great Britain wore admitted to the Bar. There were about eighty members of the Bay in Singapore and Penang, but actually always about one-sixth were on leave. Usually at the eiid of three years, eight months' leave was granted. Tho interpreting system was rather wonderful, continued Dr. Payne. The proceedings were conducted in English, and this resulted in the employment of a large number of interpreters. "We have interpreters for ' pretty nearly every language under the sun," he said. "The interpreters we have in our office are two Chinese, one Southern Indian, one Arabic, one Siamese, and two Malays. This, of course, adds to the difficulty of practising.

"You will probably be interested to know," proceeded Dr. Payne, with a smiley "that there is no income tax where I come from; and Singapore being a free port, there is no Customs." Dr. Payne said that tho Constitution of tho Federated Malay States was gradually being changed by giving back to the sultans of the Federated States powers similar to those at present exercised by sultans in the unfederftted States. There was a desire on tho part of the Malays for a greater share in the administration of the affairs of tho country.

There was plenty of racing, tennis, and golf in Singapore, Dr. Payne added. Bickshaws were being displaced in the streets by motor-cars. . .They were being taken off the streets, because, in the increasing amount of traffic, they were becoming an infernal nuisance. He said he did not think, however, that the rickshaw would disappear altogether.