THE SUPREME COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 137, 12 June 1922, Page 6

THE SUPREME COURT.

CATCHING UP LEEWAY. coon Work may be nullified/ To any one who has just a little more tlian a passing knowledge of Supreme Court proceedings it iw evident that times have changed for the better in the institution. It is not so very long ago. however, that the legal fraternity clamoured for appointments on an already too congested calendar. They lamented thoir experiences in a simiinr key to , that of the exasperated individual who 'waited his turn in a lonst totalisntor ' queue only to find on reaching the window that the clerk has run out of money. The Law Society certainly had a ground for complaint in those days, hut just as certainly it now appears that the liabits iof some of its members are jeopardsing J the smoother running of the judicial ', machinery. It was about the time of i Mr. Justice Cooper's retirement in 'March, 1921. that the congestion at the court was at its worst, but after the : representations of the Law Society Mr. Justice Adams came to Auckland, and though his ta-«k was a heavy one, grad- , uallv hilt surely the leeway was picked up. In October Mr. Justice Herdman replaced Judge Adams, and with the subsequent appointment of Mr. Justice Stringer to this court Auckland has since had the benefit of two resident judges. The quarterly criminal session held last month was di'nosed of by the two judges with expedition, it being, fortunately, a fairly moderate one. Since that time both judges have been ongaged with civil, banco, and chamber matters, and so smoothly has the work lof the court proceeded that a competent ! authority mentioned this morning that it is at the presnt time more up-to-date than it has been for the past four years. There are still a number of civil cases !on the calendar, as well as banco matI ters, for consideration before the next criminal session in August. In these matters Judsre Stringer will adjudicate alone, as his colleague, Mr. Justice Herdman, has proceeded to Hamilton to preside over the session there, while he will subsequently attend the Court of Appeal in Wellington.

A remarkable feature of the last few weeks and the one which Ins inspired this article, is the number of cases that are called and adjourned, on counsel's application, either t o allow them to give further consideration to their case, or I with a view to aTccting a compromise between the disputing parties. There have even been sporadic casee in Tvhi"h the matter need not have seen the licrht of the court. The net result of this is ■ the upsetting and undue lenTtheninsr of j the calendar. The Judges have idle time on their hands , , which, had there been sufficient notice?, would have been eagrly ' availed of by other counsel. ! Tlcnlman. it may he noted, bad only oni' full dav"s court sittin;? during his uttendtinoe at the civil session. .Adniitteil, it is. that the judges are piven the opportunity of emplovinjr their tine in their other legal duties, hut fere is just a suspicion that the slackness of some memlxTs of the profession will, if en- ' eournped. throw Hie work of the Supreme [Court back into that unhappy atmns- , phere from which it has only recently I emerged.