THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1909. THE ABOLITION OF DISTRICT COURTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3206, 4 June 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1909. THE ABOLITION OF DISTRICT COURTS.

After all it appears that the Government are to be congratulated upon their decision to abolish the District Courts. When the Minister for Justice first brought forward the proposal it was adversely criticised, the Westiand Law Society. notably, going very much out of its way in the matter of criticism, for v/hich it should now feel a good deal asharn ed in view of the fact that Supreme Court sittings are going to be held at Hokitika, Greymouth, and Westport. The cnief reasons why, in the eyes of the district generally, and in those of the legal profession in particular, the District Court should be abolished were succinctly stated by Mr P. L. Hollings when a Wairarapa deputation waited upon the Minister tor Justice in Wellington on Wednesday last, viz., that the Court did not meet the requirements of the district, while the proceedings were obsolete and inconvenient. The objects of the Government are to secure efficiency and promptness in the administration of justice, while having due regard' to economy. Such a dual object can be accomplished, the Minister for Justice considers, by abolishing the District Courts, giving special jurisdiction in some cases to Magistrates, and having Supreme Coert sittings at some of the larger centres where they are not now held. We are glad to note that the Minister expressed himself as being much in sympathy with the application of the deputation, and we have no doubt his communication to the deputation, after he has consulted the Chief Justice, will be of an eminently satisfactory character. The only disappointing feature of the deputation's visit was the Minister's attitude in regard to the question of erecting a new Courthouse a • Supreme Courthouse we take it—in M-asterton, as shown by his remark that the Government could not be asked at this time of retrenchment

to spend unnecessary money in erecting a Supreme Court in Masterton. So far as the present "time of retrenchment" is concerned, we must confess that no exception can be taken to the Minister's remark, but there is very much room for regret that, when for years past the Goverment were lavishing money in many parts of the country, a little of it could not have been spared for the erection- of a very necessary work, namely, a new Courthouse in Masterton.