THE EDWARDS APPOINTMENT.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 487, 9 July 1890, Page 5

THE EDWARDS APPOINTMENT.

Wellington, July 7. APPOINTMENTS OF JUDGES. Another surprise would seem to be in stoic for the House in connection with Judge Edwards’ anpointmont. Considerable misapprehension appears to exist with re-peet to the object of the Supreme Court Amendment Bill, which is generally supposed to have been introduced solely to legalise the appointment of Judge Edwards, it was not introduced merely for that purpose, as the preamble eets out that “ wiiereas doubts have been raised with regard to the valadity of certain appointments to the Supreme Court Bench, etc,” and I am informed this refers to the appointments of Judges Johnston, Richmond, Gillies and Williams. Although the Government had no doubt that these appointments are perfectly legal, yet as the questien has been raised with regard to Mr ,1 usticeEd wards theappointmentis regarded to equally effect the judge named. The Government think it right that any doubts should be removed. SIR ROBERT STOUT INTERVIEWED. In the course of an interview, Sir obert Stout, speaking with reference to the appointment of Judge Edwards* said it was not only unconstitutional, but entirely illegal. He thinks that with a view to the removal of f the matter entirely from party foeling, it ought to bo referred to the Privy Council foradecieionastothe legalioy of thcappointment. it is a most distressing thing to him he says, that such a debate could possibly have taken place. A Supremo Court judge had no right to be dragged into a Parliamentary debate in the manner in which Judge Edwards has \ been in this case. The fact that a Bill has to be brought in to doal with the appointment shows us his opinion that it jjj could not be completed without Parlia-1| mentary interference. • = ===== • m