THe Press. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1900. JUSTICE FOR OUR JUDGES.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10763, 17 September 1900, Page 4

THe Press. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1900. JUSTICE FOR OUR JUDGES.

A very proper protest was entered by a number of members of Parliament, when the Supreme Court Judge Appointment Bill was before the House, against the inadequate salaries paid to our Supreme Court Judges. The protest was emphatic," and the proof of its justness overwhelming, and yet the Estimates of the Justice Department have now been allowed to pass without amendment or promise of an increase in the amounts paid. This is a matter for sincere regret, and we trust that the subject is not to be allowed; to drop, but that those who have interested themselves concerning it will make t&eir voices heard to such effect that, the Government will see the wisdom and justice of remedying this very evident defect. One has only to glance at the salaries paid to Judges in the Australian colonies to see that those we appoint to administer justice in the Supreme Court of New Zealand are shamefully underpaid for the very responsible duties they are called upon to perform. New South Wales, for instance, paya its Chief Justice £3500 a year and its Puisne Judges £2600 each. In Victoria the amounts are respectively £3500 and £3000; Queensland, £3500 and £2000; while South Australia, with a population of a little more than one-third of tha,t of New Zealand, pays £2000 to ita Chief Justice, and £1700 each to its Puisne Judges. And what of New Zealand?—tihe colony of light and leading, where sweating is aa abomination and a Liberal Government passes lawa to ensure that a worker shall receive a fair day's pay for his kbour. What does the Government offer the Judges to tempt from the ranks of practising barristers the men best qualified to perform the highest duties of the Courts of Law? It holds out the tempting bait of £1700 a year for a Chief Justice and £1500 each for Puisne Judges. And this to men who are earning incomes of double that amount or more in practising their profession at the Bar. Surely it is too ridiculous to expect the best men to offer themselves.

On the occasion of the last appointment the Government were forced to go to the Civil Service to find a Judge, a principle to which we took strong exception at the tune. Happily, Mr. Justice Martin has shown that in his particular case our anticipations of unfortunate results are not likely to be realked, for, since his elevation to his present high office, be has performed the duties tha& have fallen to hi* .lot ably and wail-

Wβ are pleased to make this acknowledgement, more especially as we expressed some doubt as to the suitability of the appointment when first made. But though we have so far been particularly fortunate in securing the services of suitable men at an insufficient salary, this oannot go on for ever. Of course the present Government is not to blame for fixing the rate of pay of our Judges; that was fixed as far back

as 1863, when the population of the colony was infinitely smaller than it is now, the ■work of the Judges muoh less, and the coun-

try to all appearances not in a position to pay a larger sum. But the condition of things has now changed. The population in 1860 was only 79,711; now it is estimated at about 800,000, and although the Court work has increased enormously the number of Jndges continued the same until the passing of the Act a few weeks ago authorising the appointment of an additional Judge. As to the state of the public purse, has not the Colonial Trea-

surer just brought down, a record surplus;

have not the Government recently introduced

and passed into law an enactment increasing their own salaries; do not the Estimates fairly bulge with increases to the salaries of Civil Servants? Why not, then, also do something like justice to bur underpaid Judges? If there is one matter upon which all political parties agree it is that our Courts of Justice should be placed in a position to defy and resist all attempts at outside influence. ,We are supposed to select the men best fitted to fiU what are the highest and most responsible positions in the power of the people, as represented by the Government of the day, to give. And then witih a shortsightedness tliat is certxiinly childish, if not criminal, we offer

a salary that we must know is insufficient to induce the best men to come forward and

accept the positions. Some members on both sides of the House appear to have awoke to the position. Let them take the matter up with earnestness and activity, and their cause is so just that success must eventual!v crown their efforts.