Law Reform.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4444, 3 April 1883, Page 3

Law Reform.

Judge Bichmond, in his charge to the Grand j ury at Wellington on Friday, after referring to the cases, said : " You are aware gentlemen, that some strenuous efforts hare been made to improve our civil procedure, but as yet our law-makers seem to hare left the criminal law untouched. No doubt our Legislature has been await ing the result of impending law changes in England, and if those changes are found to remore blots which ha.ye been brought into notice we shall probably follow suit. Gentlemen, we sometimes have, many of us, a hard word to say of lawyers, but as one of them—l identify myself with them —that many things to be expected in the way of reform must be looked for from them, just BBfor the most part Churchmen hare been the authors of great reforms in the Church, and just as to medical men we must look for improvement in medical practice, so, in the-eame way must we look to lawyers for reform in the law. Our zeal may not be according to knowledge, but it is quite plain from recent doings that if it is the earnest desire cf the legal profession to simplify legal procedure it will be done. As for civ.il procedure, a great attempt has been made in that direction, and its success rf mains lobe seen ; but there is very little doubt (hat crimitial procedure will soon follow. We are still troubled with some difficulties : as, for example, with the distinction between larceny and embezzlement, a distinction which it is sometimes difficult for lawyers to understand. Such relics of ancient procedure will very soon, vo doubt, be swept away, and we shall bave something more rational. ■ Also, I hope fo see the law of indictments made more reasonable than now."