OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 21 June 1907, Page 2

OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

■» , ATTORNEV.<)R\KRAI/S SUGGES-' '"" TIONB CRITICISED. Per Press Association. " ■ Auckland, Juno 20, the proposnl of the Attorney-General to submit a Hill dealing with the judicial system of the country W a» referred to by several prominent members of the Auckland Bar to-day in order to ascertain their view. Mr. Tkos. Cotter described the proposal ns "simply atrocious." "it is carrying centralising to a. most extra limit, und reducing all Supreme Courts of the colony, other than that of Wellington, to mere appendages to the Supreme Court in Wellington, and increasing the probable injurious «f. fetts of delays In getting cases heard 'S to such an extent as to seriously impair " thi' efficiency of our judicial system." Air. Karl, president of the Law Society, supported Mr. Colter. "The proposal," he said, "will be most bitterly op|»sed by the Auckland Law Society. I am quite satisfied that there will be a material increase in the cost of litigation, and the effect would bo generally hurtful to everyone except to the members of the legal profession at Wellington. The Law Society in Auckland lias alrcady.objectcd to lengthy absences of the Judge from this district, particularly when he is compelled to take Gisbome sittings. I can hardly suppose It is seriously in- • tended that one Judge shall take the whole circuit of the North Island, and tint an important centre like Auckland shall be left without a resident Judge. The practical effect of that would bo that nearly all Supreme Court business would have to paw through Wellington, much to the profit of the members of the legal profession there, but to the loss of Auckland practitioners and * clients." . , . i'S

Mr. A. Harina considers the proposal a retrograde step. Thero should be a Judge constantly sitting here, and he says a new sub-division of the colony should be made to include places like Napier, New Plymouth, Gisbome, 'and Palmcrston North.

The Appeal Court should be presided over by three Judges sitting constantly. Dean Bamford nlso spoke strongly against the proposal. It would increase the cost of law business, and also greatly delay it. He favored the creation of I three districts for the North Island with resident Judges. *