MORE COMPLEX LAW IN N.Z.

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29189, 27 April 1960, Page 18

MORE COMPLEX LAW IN N.Z.

Retiring Judge’s Comments

The law in New Zealand had certainly become very much more complex with the immense growth of the statutes and regulations, said Mr Justice Adams in an interview yesterday. His Honour was asked to review some aspects of his 49 years of active experience at the bar and as a judge. Next month he will go on sabbatical leave before retiring in November. “This growth makes the work of the practising lawyer much more boring and laborious.” his Honour commented. He recalled that at the start of his career, the life of a lawyer seemed, in retrospect, to be much simpler and more direct. Asked if he thought there had been an increase of litigants because of increasing complexity of laws, his Honour said it would be difficult to say if there was more law work, comparatively, now than 40 years ago on a per capita basis. To the comment that the Supreme Court quarterly sessions nowadays appeared to run into each other because so many cases had to be heard, his Honour said: “In my 40 years’ connexion with judges—my father was one —and in my decade as a judge, I know that judges have been overworked. “I do not hesitate to say that judges have been called upon to do too much work They have been overworked, undoubtedly so.” He said that severe pressure had been put on judges. Judges needed breathing spaces to consider decisions. Overworking judges was not in the best interests of anyone. “It is my hope that the appointment of a second resident judge in Christchurch on my retirement will make for better working conditions for the judges. This will undoubtedly be the case, but I, myself, shall not be there, unfortunately, to enjoy the advantages.”