SUPREME COURT BENCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1917, Page 5

SUPREME COURT BENCH.

JUDGESHIP 'FOR MINISTERS.; In the House of (Representatives 1 on Friday significant laughter greeted, at the end of the first clause, the reading l>y Sir John Findlay (Hawke's Bay) of a motion, which he gave notice of Ins intention to move on Wednesday next; | and, as the hon. member resinned his seat, Mr. W. Nosworthy (Aahlburton) interjected, amid renewed laughter, "Where are you bound for?" The mo' 'tion in question reads a« follows. "That, ns vacancies are likely to arise shortly in the Supreme Court Bench, and as it is in the "best interests of this country that the high standard of legal attainment and judicial judgment hitherto so uniformly displayed by that Bench should lbe maintained, this hon. House is of opinion that no barrister should ibe appointed to the office of •a Supreme Court Judge merely or mainly because he has in the past occupied, or does at the time of the proposed appointment occupy, the position of a Minister of the Crown. And this hon. House is further and consequently of opinion that the paramount teat of fitness prescribed by the Public Service Act should ibe applied in connection with any such proposed appointment, so that no past or present member of any Cabinet should bo appointed to the high office of : Supreme Court Judge whose qualifications (were he a private barrister) would not have entitled hiiu to such appointment."