JUDICIAL REFORMS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 3, 1 December 1883, Page 2

JUDICIAL REFORMS.

• Some time Since considerable discission took place m the newspapers throughOut. the colony as to charges made for professional assistance m the Resident Magistrate's Court, being endorsed xipon the the summons with the authority of tlie Court. A good deal of the <^is.cussion turned upon the effect of the practice which had for a long tin^e existed upon eases • where no professional assistance was needed. The effect was shown to be an additional item of ex pense to the defendant. It was held by tlie Court that a defendant could not be eipeoted.'to pay the costs of the plaintiff for professional assistance where no professional assistance was necessary. This was a common-sense view of the matter. The same view appears to have impressed itself on the mind of the Minister of Justice, who evidently thinks that a defendant should not be charged a fee that was never earned by any one. Where a defendant " confesses judgment" without giving trouble of any kin44o the Court for hsaring, uo fee should be charged. The cost, on tha issue of the summons, hail been already declared. Formerly, it was the practice to charge a person who confessed judgment a fee of two shillings. The Department of Justioo have now issued a circular to all Clerks of Resident Magistrates' Courts that m future.no fee shall' be charged upon a confession of j udgment.