COURT ADJOURNMENTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 136, 12 June 1933, Page 3

COURT ADJOURNMENTS

LAST-MINUTE APPLICATIONS

COMMENT BY CHIEF JUSTICE,

With further commcnt 011 the practice of solicitors in asking for adjournments of cases at the last minute, the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, struck two cases off the Supremo Court civil list and adjourned one sine die when applications were made to him this morning. The first case was one in which Mr. Haynes asked for an adjournment on the grounds that the parties were not ready to go 011. His Honor: Why aren't you ready? I'm ready. The Court is ready. Mr. Haynes: My friend, Mr. A. IT. Johnstone, has been briefed, but he is unable to attend. Notice was given a week previously that an adjournment would be asked for. I thought that if I notified the Court in time there would be no objection. His Honor adjourned the hearing sine die. "There aro very special reasons for asking for an adjournment in this case," said Sir. Barrowclough, when the second case was called. "The defendant is away in England, and we have had difficulty in getting in touch with him. We are hopeful of reaching a settlement." His Honor: It is nearly a year since this writ was issued. Has it ever been set down before? "I think in April," said Mr.. Barrowclough. His Honor: I am not dismissing the action. It will be struck off the It will have to be set down for next sitting or some other sitting. In a case in which Mr. Meredith was involved, counsel said there was one minor point to be settled and there was every prospect of settlement. Counsel asked that the case should not be struck off the list. "I'll strike it off the list," remarked his Honor. Mr. Meredith started to make a further explanation.. His Honor: Here are three cases on the list for trial. If they are settled, well gpfld T but it seems rfl,tlicr absurd tha!tWhe Court should bo asked to make definite fixtures and the Court is left, or would hav>2 been left, without anything to do, but for the fact that the registrar has been able, at the last moment, to arrange for something else. Mr. Meredith: It is possible His Honor: No more need be said, Mr Meredith. The action is struck off.