THE COURTS.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 286, 7 June 1909, Page 4

THE COURTS.

Recently a deputation of Masterton residents waited upon the Minister of Justice in reference to the abolition of the District Court. Dr Findlay, in reply, made some very interesting remarks in reference- to- the proposed changes, which should assist to reassure those who consider that the alteration in system may tend to lessen the judicial facilities open to the public. ' The Minister said the District Court 'was' ah' anarchronism. Its procedure was clumsy and out of date, and tl^at it had been made to work as well as it had" done was due to the tactful efforts of the judges concerned.. The Government had" not yet conferred special jurisdiction upon Stipendiary Magistrates, but he thought the time had arrived when, in proper 'cases, : this should be done, so that a speedy trial of the smaller actions now taken to the District Courts or Supreme Court could bo secured to litigants, because since ..the days of the Magna Gharta it had been recognised that' delay in the hearing of a. case was in itself an :n---justicc. The Government hswl.no desire 'to- deprive- any district of judicial facilities at- least as good as were secured under the District ' Court. They wished to secure efficiency and promptitude, but to also have regard to economy. He agreed with the ' •deputation that in substituting the j Supreme- Court for the District Court there would be no increase of expense ; in fact, he wa& of opinion that there would be a general saving of at least £1000. and, with sill due respect to the District Court, .secure a more ■ judicial service. The Minister went i on to remark that in Auckland, where they had a large criminal ; calendar, many hundreds of pounds were spent annually in bringing 1 wit- ! nessess to the city to give evidence before ilie. Grand Jury and petty juries, ami it had been pointed out to him that .'i very large, saving would be effected if the Supremo Court would .<it in n town some distance ! outsidß Auckland. Discussing tin* matter informally with the. judge of I tho Supremo Court in Auckland, he ! *x pressed ;i ready willingness to tako ' on any additional Avork which might '

bo involved in sitting at the place mentioned. Judges, of course, could not do impossibilities, but.they were willing to supply the West Coast of the South Island with sittings of the Supreme Court. There would be eight sittings in the different towns of the West Coast annually. He could infer, therefore, that the. judges would hare no objection, if .necessary, to hold .sittings in such an important centre as Masterton. The Government's action' upon ' his suggestion, of abolishing' the District Courts, had met with a certain amount of criticism, but ho was satisfied that every member of the legal profession in New Zealand, speaking not only for the interests of the profession, but,,also for litigants, must approve of the •disappearance of the District Court as a Court- 'which, from its inherent character, w-as out of date. With the extension of Magistrates' power, and the holding of further sittings of the Supreme •Court, he believed several thousands per annum could be saved without loss of efficiency, or causing one moment of delay.