LAW ECONOMY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 103, 3 May 1932, Page 7

LAW ECONOMY.

SIMPLER PROCEDURE

New Regulations to Reduce Cost

Of Litigation,

LORD SANKEY'S PLAN,

(United I\A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

LONDON, May 2.

In consequence of representations made by Chambers of Commerce and individual business men Viscount Sankey, Lord Chancellor, has drawn up new rules designed to reduce the cost of litigation and to simplify the hearing of law cases.

Certain classes of cases arc definitely excluded from* the new procedure, such as libel, breach of promise, and cases where plaintiff alleges fraud.

A solicitor for a plaintiff in future will be entitled to ask for other classes of cases to be tried according to the simplified procedure. A judge will then be able to transfer a ease to Assizes or to a County Court, dispense with a jury, limit the number of expert witnesses and curtail the number of documents to be placed before the Court and all things which now tend greatly to increase costs.

A judge will also be able to record the consent of both parties to the waiving of the right to appeal.

A memorandum points out that the new procedure offers jireat possibilities to suitors desirous of a speedy conclusion of a case, but adds that no system can help those who are hostile to settlement at a reasonable expenditure of time and money.