THE CHIEF JUSTICESHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 146, 22 June 1899, Page 3

THE CHIEF JUSTICESHIP.

(By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

I have the best authority this morning for stating that no definite step has been taken by the Cabinet in resj>ect to the appointment of a Chief Justice. Three names are freely men. tioned—Judge Williams, Sir Robert Stout, and Mr Theo. Cooper, of Auckland. So far as I can learn the sitting judges and the great majority of the bar are strongly of the opinion that Mr Justice Williams has by far the best claim to the position. The drawback to his appointment is

the fact that Mr Justice Williams is now well advanced in life, and has not enjoyed very good health lately. By elevating Sir Robert Stout to the position of presiding judge the Ministry would remove an always dangerous opponent completely from the field of active politics, and might possibly placate a large number of Sir R- Stout's friends and admirers. In any case I have good reason to be-, lieve that he would not look at the offer unless the. salary were raised to £2000 a year, an increase of £200 en the present rate, which requires Parliamentary sanction, the judges' salaries being amongst the permanent appropriations. I have no doubt, however, that Parliament would readily endorse the action of the Ministry if the salary were increased. As for Mr Cooper, when he was last in Wellington, in the course of a conversation I told him that he was one of the names freely mentioned as among the pick, but he merely smiled a smile that was child-like and bland. 1 feel inclined to pin my faith, and that for reasons which I am not at liberty to publish, on Judge Williams' chances of the future Chief Justiceship Mr Cooper in all probability will be offered a puisne judgeship.