Jurists Seek Check On State Power

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30971, 29 January 1966, Page 3

Jurists Seek Check On State Power

(.Veu> Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 28. To safeguard the citizen against the encroaching power of the State and to uphold the rule of law, the New Zealand section of the International Commission of Jurists is urging the legal profession to be aware of the need for reform of administrative law in New Zealand, according to Dr. R. G. McElroy, chairman of the section.

Dr. McElroy (Mayor of Auckland) told the section’s annual meeting in Wellington last night that the section’s committee had taken steps to uphold the rule of law by preparing three draft bills for study by a Parliamentary committee or the Law Revision Committee. - One was aimed at simplifying procedures for obtaining declarations of prerogative writs.

Another made provision for appeals from administrative tribunals to the courts.

The third was a bill to provide a code to regulate procedures of administrative tribunals. “It is not claimed for the three draft bills that they are the only or ultimate forms which the reform of administrative law for New Zealand should take. “What is certain, however, is that reform is needed, and this can only be brought

about within the frame-work of some statute or statutes,” he said.

It was hoped that the section might have an opportunity to present its views to a Parliamentary committee or to the Law Revision Committee.

“Once this question is decided on by the AttorneyGeneral (Mr Hanan) it is to be hoped the considered views of the International Commission of Jurists will be given the weight of consideration they deserve in this matter," he said.