‘INADEQUATE SPACE’

Press, Volume C, Issue 29536, 10 June 1961, Page 16

‘INADEQUATE SPACE’

Magistrate’s Court Although there had been interior remodelling of tht Christchurch Magistrate’s Court buildings from time to time, the space available had remained practically unaltered for many years and was clearly inadequate, said Mr P. H. T. Alpers, president of the Canterbury Distric* Law Society, yesterday. Commenting on a report in “The Press” yesterday of overcrowding in the court on Thursdays which said the matter had been taken up by the society. Mr Alpers, in a statement on behalf of the council, said this was true in the sense that in 1959 very detailed proposals were made to the authorities for reorganisation of the court's work, but the council of the society was told that the suggestions were impracticable. “It has again been apparent to the council in recent months that a problem was arising in the court about the disposal of business, largely because we live in a ranidly-expanding city," Mi Alners continued. “The council is well aware that the inadequacies of the Magistrate's Court buddings have much to do with the problem. "Recently, the council has been preparing a report on the general situation affecting the disposal of business with a view to making further rewesentations to the authorities.” The council was sure that the legal profession as a whole would gladly cooperate in anything which would relieve the congestion hot only on Thursdays, when the mam criminal sittings were held, but also at other times of the week, Mr Alpers added.