THE LAWS DELAYS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 105, 9 June 1914, Page 10

THE LAWS DELAYS.

ALMOST A SCANDAL LOUD COMPLAINTS. f AN ANTIQUATED SYSTEM. , Members of the legal profession illy Christehurch —not to ineintion. thehf clients—are wondering when the civil cases which were on the list for the last sittings of the Supreme Court are going to. be proceeded with. It - will be remembered that the criminal sittings wero prolonged to some extent. When the civil cases were called, it was found that' the judge had only time to deal with oile case before leaving Christehurch to go on circuit. The result is that a number of important civil cases were, .not touched. The solicitors are powerless, their clients are impatient, and the whole course of the cases is practically at a standstill. It is thought that by some time in July the way will be cleared. GREAT DISSATISFACTION.

Speaking to a SUN'representative today, a prominent barrister and solicitor said that there had been very considerable dissatisfaction in the profession for some time past, at the difficulty in having cases heard. Under the existing arrangement the judges sat in the Court of Appeal three times a year—in March, June, and September., There" were four criminal and four civil sittings in each of the four centres; there were four at Invercargill, three at Timaru, two at Oamaru, and;three on the; This* necessitated, the judge at, CJnristchurch going on ciratii& " Wiat had just happened at Christehurch "was /an. example of what had happened/on several occasions." A" great many of th& caSes , had to Tstarid ovei', b#in'g"t<r th'e leaving'' the.'.v distiict to. his duties' in fither parts of the DominlonT ' BADLY •' The effect was that generally which cattie t. into contact '. With * the courts felt thatUthey not being fairly treated,, and • that thfeir cases did : not receive that expeditioiis consideration which was desirable/' No one could ' blame the 1 judges, as? they; had •to wtfrk practically the whole year round.- •" : ANOTHER JUDGB"WAINTED: *

; As far as Canterbury was 1 the "Services of ;.:at'«eeoiid : wanted: at certain periods; of the year. - ■The wprk" was too much for one man'tV cope' -with- successfully, unMss .He was permanently ; stationed in ,Canterbury : At'■■the present Mr Jtisiide Itennis-': ton was m he had alsi> to,: take sittings ••'oii.; ;tl& * -Apart • from the worki of thfe'Appeal Court,; the seryices of foii6 s juSge: sfcotrld r allottedt > Couyt _of' t,ook. 1 iijontlis of jthe.. and ifiero nipntiv's fore had only eight -months in .the year, . and had to share that" with; Westland ' 4ind > miteig:."tiie best circumstances. ■/ ~ r "' ■ ■". ■.,"■.';' ... '

NO" IMPBQ^ vvCasjes set/do^nh^ri^, on i 9 haye one ChristelLurclu actually, liad-no more. judiT&afs .v ; agicn : In. spite of; onqfmofis increase; ifl. * iiTtcrease.lif?litiga^ cpver the Same district; asi the jiidge. of , 50 years ago covered. The recent appointment of an- extra judge Had' ; not * helped the Sbutli Island in the slxghtest degree.' It had helped'th6^'NprtK'lslandj but - the South iiad beeri neglected.'Xt was time "that something was done , to remove what was. a very gferious in- • convenience, and one which resulted in more' hardship than, one would care to do more than liirit ati