PARLIAMENTARY INTERFERENCE WITH JUDGES.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9520, 12 September 1896, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY INTERFERENCE WITH JUDGES.

We are very glad to see that the Premier takes up the position that it is wrong for Parliament to interfere with the Judges. It will be an ill day for this colony when the independence of the Bench is set aside and the decisions of the Courts are made the sport of heated political controversy in the House. Parliament is the worst possible Court of Appeal to decide upon matters which ought to be adjudicated upon* in the dry, clear light of the Law Courts by officials trained to hold the scales fairly, and

who can have no motive for dealing in a partial or prejudiced manner witb tho cases brought beforo them. The notorious Dban case will long sUnd out as a beacon, warning us against allowing political influence to ovoreid. tho docisions of the Courts of Law, But if we waut examples wo can get them nearer home. The Banking Committee professes to be a judicial tribunal appointed to determine certain matters of fact, but everybody now knows that, being tainted with the spirit of party politic., it is about the worst body that could have been set up for such a purpose. The Premier showed in tho most pronounced shape a few days ago his utter distrust; of the conclusions arrived at by Parliamentary Committees sitting in a quasi-judicial capacity. The Public Petitions Committee ha 3 reported more than once that the Government owes a printer a certain sum on a contract for printing electoral rolls. Mr. Seddon refused to tako this decision, but said ha would lay the papers before Mr. Mvutin, S.M., and if the Magistrate said the Government owed the money it should be paid. But tbo principle of non- inter* ference with the Judges aud Mag'ts. trates ought, we think, to be carried even further. Ministers should not endeavour to influence them in their judicial capacity, and should be care, ful uot to say anything in public that tends to disparage thoir oflice or to woakon the public confidence in theic integrity. AYe have not forgotten the Hon. J. M'Kenzie's sneers about the "Tory Judges," aud wa hopo, with Sic Robert Stout, that the Miuistor for Lands will tako to hoart the very proper remarks of his political chief.