THE GOVERNMENT AND MR. BARTON'S CHARGES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 833, 14 December 1878, Page 2

THE GOVERNMENT AND MR. BARTON'S CHARGES.

[I'EE. TRESS AGENCY.] Wellington, Dec. 12. ( A voluminous reply has been sent by Government to Mr. Barton, regarding liis application for an inquiry into the "conduct of the Judges of the Supreme Court as respects himself and his clients. The reply deals -with Mr. Barton's charges categorically to the number of twelve, and in each case the Government intimate that the charges have not been justified, or were not of such a nature as to call for an inquiry. The two concluding paragraphs of the letter are as follows : " I have now dealt wich the various charges you have made ; I have placed in the appeddix the various documents referring to the cases for more ready reference, and after a careful and calm review I am bound to say that I regret that you should have made the charges, and I feel assured that you will yet acknowledge that they were made either under some temporary irritation, or without due consideration. There is one misapprehension under which you seem to labor which I think it neccss.-iry to dispel. It is not the function of the Executive of the Colony to act as an appellate tribunal. If the Judges decide contrary to law, ample machinery has been provided to have* their decisions reviewed. It cannot be right that men who may not have been trained as lawyers should sit in judgment on the decisions of the Supreme Court, It is only when clear evidence is produced of corruption or incapacity that the Executive is called upon to interfere. Were the Executive to interfere with the Judges whenever a disappointed litigant invoked their aid, the due administration of justice would be impeded. (Signed)—G. S. Whitmoee."