MARVEL OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17207, 26 July 1921, Page 8

MARVEL OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL.

FAITH IN IMPERIAL: JUSTICE. (from our own correspondent.) LONDON, June 9. "When Professor J. A. Stralian read a paper on "Federation and Confederation in the British Empire," at a University College Rhodes Lecture, Lord Justice Scrutton occupied the chair, and gave a racy description of the work of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. He described this body as on* of the threads, and a very odd one "that held together the different unite of the British Empire. If you go into a slummy little street off Whitehall," said the chairman, "you will find an extremely obscure door. You will then go upstaira into a not very clean-looking room, where you will find a horseshoe table, and four or five sometimes rather sleepy old gentle* men sitting round it, being addressed by counsel. (Laughter.) Bus if you sit and listen you will be amazed at the pageant that passes through that room. Indian communities come to ask the -ourt to decide whether a certain £od has a right to pass through the streets of a certain Indian town with elephants or not. (Laughter.) ' There come* sometimes the Commonwealth of Australia for the settlement of disputes between the States of Australia and the Commonwealth as to the exact limitations of the jurisdiction of each. There comes very frequently the Commonwealth of Canada, and there come representatives from the Mauritius, Trinidad, the Cape, and every colony brings the oddest questions to be decided by that perfectly impartial and trusted tribunal. , The result is that the Privy Council is known in the most obscure parts of the Empire, although the people do not know what it ia. (Laughter.) ; There is a story that' ia one of the most obscure porta of India there was found an altar with worship going on The traveller asked the people whom they were worshiping, aid they answered: 'We do not know;, but it is the great god Privy Council.'" (Laughter.)

Aii Illustration of Daily Work The observations of Lord Justice Serutton have inspired a leading article in the "Daily Telegraph;" whose writer doubts whether the Judicial Committee has ever heard a more pictureaqiw suitor than the "West African potentate who this week appears before tnem. This monarch, is one of the Idejo White Cap Chiefs of Lagos, and he comes into coart in a white robe covered with a cloak of blue and gold brocade; on fab head is the titular white caf> granted to his ancestors two centuries **nce, and in close attendance upon him i» -borne the State umbrella.- Hit cause concerns the rival claims of. bunsetf and the Crown to certain lands, "we are concerned not with its natnre»tot with the fact of a native, of Wei* Africa seokingjustice from a little Committee of the Privy Council.of the King of England. This is, indeed, bote, striking illustration of the daily wotfc of this, Imperial Court. ' - i As for the Indian story where/ wf people in a remote part were <peiforiUing religious rites about ttd altar worshipping "the great god Privy Council/' the "Daily Telegraph" hopes that all those who smile at the story hew * clear idea of the origin and function* of the Judicial . Committee; •' Tfa* Court .in its present form is not baßoWed by antiquity. It is less than a hundred veafs old, and owes its existence to Lord Brougham. His intentions,ill the matter caused much uneasiness to that jealous and suspicious clerk of the Privy Council, Charles Grevilta Bot whatever Brnneham meant, it is oTefflT that he gave the British Empire, buußr ing, perhaps , better than he knew. Ig institution o#the highest value. «• authority is. indeed, derived not; W from nineteenth century legislation, but from the ancient tradition of Jne constitution which ascribes judicial authority to the Privy Council &■**&<£• senting the original Continual Council of the King. From its 1833, the Judicial Committee has beg recognised and fullv bonoflred a» toe final Court of Appeal for Britons and all subjects of the King-Emperor beyond the seas. ...... - •' -f> "Though we are not federated, tnonm the ultimate political organisation jt the Empire remains undetermined, while each year binds its component parts more closelv. it is well we fhouM re-number one of tbe oreatest botMM a» un'on—faith in .Imperial justice and the institution by which it is administered."