The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1913. THE SUPREME COURT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 91, 24 April 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1913. THE SUPREME COURT.

Since the abolition of District Courts very great inconvenience and much loss oi time lias been experienced in Jaranaki, through the necessity for all matters beyond the jurisdiction of the Magistrate’s Court having to he taken to New Plymouth to the Supreme Court held there. It is certainly time that the Department of Justice considered the institution of additional sittings of the Supreme Court at some central position in Jaranaki, and it is equally certain that being convinced of the great desirability of this change, the Department should have no hesitation in deciding upon Stratford as the centre at which sessions should be held. At present the whole of Taranaki is greatly desirous of some such reform being instituted, and we believe there is now an agitation afoot to obtain sittings of the Supreme Court in Hawera. To the great majority of residents in Taranaki there would be no great advantage in this, because in most instances lawyers and litigants and the “host of witnesses,” would have as far to travel and as long to wait if they went to Hawera as they now have to at New Plymouth. It is quite plainly most convenient to have such institutions at a geographical centre, and for this reason alone Stratford must be selected as the most suitable point in Taranaki for a Supreme Court sessions. Hawera is doubtless justified in claiming that tin l southern cn ( | of the province must be considered, though it can hardly be expected that a Supreme Court would ■sit in every town along the line. Hawera would, however, in common with other parts of the district he better off with a Supremo Court sitting at Stratford than at present with sessions at New Plymouth, because this town is easily accessible from North and South, and the train service would enable those having business with the Court to arrive in good time for the opening and to leave for their homes after each day’s work'.

In fact Stratford i.s practically equidistant from each of the four corners of the Taranaki Judicial District. So far as the Department of Justice i.s concerned, though reputedly difficult to move, it must in fairness he admitted that it has, on occasion, recognised that the public convenience must be studied, and this is indicated

by the comparatively recent appointments of Supreme Court sessions at Masterton, Hamilton, and on the host Coast of the South island. The Covernment, in the instances referred to. has apparently recognised that whore a capital town is not centrally situated, greater facilities must he provided, in no case is this more clear than in their action on the West Coast, where Hokitika as the capital town originally served the whole district from Westport to South Westland in Supreme Court* business. To

meet the needs of the people—thej much-neglected West Coast seldom I cries in vain—Courts were instituted at both Westport and Groymouth, though the work of these three Courts is a mere bagatelle when compared with that transacted by the Supreme Court of Taranaki. II the change made was justified on the West Coast it is infinitely more so in Taranaki both from the point of view of the 1 work done and the population served. At present our widely spread population is not catered for as it should 1 be in this regard. Of course it is l necessary to consider all points, and! the cost of administration may be brought up against any suggested change. Really, however, the extra cost will be so small that it should not be seriously entertained. While New Plymouth may retain its Supreme Court, having the necessary building and appointments, it would be quite j an easy matter for the Judge to ) bold a sitting at a more central posi- j tion in Taranaki immediately following on the New Plymouth sittings. Stratford Courthouse is quite suitable for such a sitting, and has jury rooms and other appurtenances remaining! from the old District Court days, when much important business was transacted here by the District Judges. Under existing arrangements the hardship of a long journey, the possible detention in New Plymouth for a week or more while waiting on the Court, and the fact that the train service is not convenient, make a very good case for a change. We do not think that the judges themselves would oppose such a course as now suggested, and if it were adopted—as it must be very shortly—their Honors would suffer little, if any, inconvenience in continuing a session in Stratford, but in any case it is the wants and requirements of the bulk of the people that must be the paramount consideration of the Government. Facilities such as now wanted tend to the ends of justice, in making the conduct of proper litigation less cumbersome and less expensive. We hope this important matter will not be lost sight of and that strong representations will be made to the Justice Department pointing out the full facts. It is a long way to Taranaki from Wellington, and we almost fear that some persons in authority there have failed to grasp the fact that things are not quite as they were in the days of the Maori War for instance, and that settlement has been rapid in all directions, and especially so in the great central and eastern districts of which Stratford is the heart.