DICTATING TO A JUDGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 160, 8 July 1922, Page 11

DICTATING TO A JUDGE.

A MEMBER'S TELEGRAM. LABOUR MEMBER'S SUGGESTION. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary lieporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. "A member of Parliament has been attempting to dictate to the Arbitration Court judge,'" announced Mr. J. McCombs, by way of preliminary to a question in the House to-day. " He read the newspaper report of what he called the rebuke administered by Judge Fraser to Mr. J. R. Hamilton, M.P., who had telegraphed that the Arbitration Court must sit in Invercargill if the majority of farmers who were parties to a case desired this. "The telegram," said Mr. MeCombs, "concluded with the words, 'reply at once.' " "Fancy that to a Supreme Court judge," exclaimed the member for Lvttelton. who requested the Minister of Justice to have regulations drawn up preventing a member of Parliament from dictating to the judges how they should act on the Bench. The Hon. E. P. Lee replied that this was not at all necessary, because Supreme Court judges had full and ample power to deal with anyone, whether member of Parliament or otherwise, who attempted to interfere with them. Mr. E. J. Howard: What would have happened if it had been 2, -E&bour member? (Laughter.) Mr. J. R. Hamilton came into discussion with a question to the Minister of Justice to know whether he thought a judge was within his riihts in rebukinsr a member of Parliamant for carrying out an instruction contained on a communication from the Clerk of Awards, instructing the farmers to reply to the Court. ■Mr. Lee: Under the stands orders of this House comment on the conduct of a Supreme Court judge is not in order. (Laughter.)