JUDGES RETIRING

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1920, Page 4

JUDGES RETIRING

THREE VACANCIES NEXT YEAR. JUDGES COOPER, CHAPMAN, AND i EDWARDS. By Telegraph.—Prest AiuooUUott. Wellington, Last Night Three vacancies are pending on thj Supreme Court Bench. It it belief* Mr. Justice Cooper intends resigßta| early next year, and about tie auv time Mr. Justice Chapman will halt reached the age limit (72 yean) fa service on the Bench. The ApfroftM tion Act of last session indicated tty approaching resignation of Mr. JifctM Edwards. It will be necessary to Wing the Bench up to full strength, more especially as it is believed the Chjel Justice will commence his yegst'i I»V< of absence some time next year. The Attorney-General (Sir fratoeut Bell), asked what would be the pbiN (ion regarding the three vacancies, re< plied that one would be filled tythe appointment of Mr. Justice Sftlmondi \vhose appointment at present it temporary, and another by the .transfer ol Mr. Justice Stringer from the Court 0} Arbitration to the Supreme Court. Thai would leave two appointments, a JiMg« of the Arbitration Court and «/Judg« to the Supreme Court, to be mad? early in 1921, if the anticipation of the pend< lug vacancies proved correct. The At< torney-General has a traditional right to succeed to a seat on the it is well known that Sir FraiwU Beß lias not availed himself of this xlgbt U I the past, and it is equally certain hj( will not do so now.

The retirement of Mf. Justice Coopel has already been announced. , A Dillj News reporter last nijjlht ftJpWjwW Sir Bassett Edwards concerning hi* t* ported retirement, but he stated thai W preferred' not to make any annouact? ment on the subject at this stage.