JUDGES’ SALARIES

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1932, Page 5

JUDGES’ SALARIES

OPPOSED BY SIR, F. BELL

BEYOND QUESTION IN LAW,

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, April 27,

In a letter to the “Dominion” newspaper, Sir Francis Bell, formerly Attorney General, discussed the question of a reduction in salaries of Judges of the Supreme Court, contending it 1b beyond’ qustion in law, that nothing but an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom can empower tile Government or Parliament of New Zealand to diminish the statutory , salary of any Judge of the Supreme Court during tenure by that Judge of office, hu'. 1 F< Bell adds :~»“B at to me it •jwms equally beyond question in principle that no such power should be. exercisable, It is necessary, to.duy in New Zealand, as it was in the year 1700 in England, to establish complete confidence of the public that the Supreme bench is impartial, free from any influence, and certain to give judgment in accordance with right. Such confidence can only he maintained and ensured by establishing the dignity and independence of the Bench. Judges are guardians for their successors of the principle established by the Act of Settlement. If the Judges, moved by any personal sentiments, or influenced by public clam our, demanding equality of sacrifice, voluntarily make any surrender of their salaries, they make it difficult, if not impossible for their successors in office in similar circumstances to refrain from following the precedent so initiated. I trust that those who now hold the pas's which "separates the judical office from all other avocations, those who have accepted the place which makes them keepers of the pass, may not be. induced in this crisis to surrender it.”