Judges Dissatisfied With Salary Increase

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29270, 30 July 1960, Page 14

Judges Dissatisfied With Salary Increase

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, July 29. New Zealand’s puisne judges, dissatisfied with increases in their salaries, are meeting in Wellington tomorrow to discuss a proposal that they ask the Government for larger increases. The three Supreme Court judges who called the meeting are believed to be perturbed at the reduction in their margins over magistrates and senior departmental officers who will soon receive proportionately higher increases. Tonight the Secretary of Justice (Dr. J. L. Robson) said he had no official notice of any meeting of judges. “Judges are quite entitled, if

they so desire, to have a meeting on any subject. It is entirely their own business” he said. At present puisne judges receive £3250 a year and the Government proposal is to increase their salaries to £4OOO. Magistrates who at present receive £2200 will get a proportionately higher rise to £2950. Some judges feel that the disparity in these increases will be reflected in a decline in their status: In 1904 when magistrates were paid from £4OO to £550 a year judges were paid £lBOO. The director-general of health, usually the highest paid public servant in New Zealand was then paid £B5O a year. A comparative table of salaries is: Dir.-Gen. Judge Magis. of Health 1914 .. £lBOO £BOO £B5O 1924 .. £2OOO £837 £1047 1934 .. £2OOO £ 828 £1034 1944 .. £2OOO £lOOO £l4OO 1954 .. £2600 ~ £l6OO £2753 1956 .. £3250 ’ £2200 £ 3300 1959 .. £3250 £2200 £3300 1960 .. £4OOO £2950 £3700 1961 .. £4OOO £ 2950 £ 4040 A Press Association message said that only one Judge sat in the Supreme Court at Auckland today. In the morning Mr Justice Gresson dealt with bankruptcy matters: It is understood that some Auckland Judges, including Mr Justice Gresson, flew to Wellington this afternoon. The Auckland Judges are Mr Justice Turner (senior puisne Judge), Mr Justice Shorland, Mr Justice Boys and Mr Justice Gresson. In Hamilton today Mr Justice Shorland did not sit and is understood to have gone to Wellington. He is due back for the beginning of the civil sessions on Monday.