N.Z. legislation 'too complex'

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33773, 20 February 1975, Page 9

N.Z. legislation 'too complex'

.\cic Zealand Press Association

DUNEDIN, February 18.

Legislation in New Zealand is being drafted in unnecessarily difficult language, according to Mr N. J. Jamieson, a senior lecturer in law at Otago University.

Mr Jamieson has recently taken up his appointment at the university after seven years as a Parliamentary legal draftsman. “It is a foregone conclusion that there will be changes in the language of statutes — it is just a matter of how it will come about,” he said. The important principle to be decided was whether legislation was meant to be understood by everyone. “It used to be fundamental that ignorance of the law was no defence, but legislation has become so complex and numerous that ignorance of the law is now sometimes accepted as a defence,” he said. New Zealand had a veryhigh reputation for its law 1 drafting, and because of this draftsmen tended to be self-satisfied about it. . “The draftsman is in the best position to make changes but the pressure is still coming from the out side,” he said. In the United Kingdom, the Statute Law' Society was looking into ways of making the language of legislation more simple, but in some instances the response of politicians had been disappointing. Mr Jamieson thinks there

has been too much legislation in New' Zealand for many years, and he regards this as an unhealthy sign. “I find the rapidity with which legislation has to be put through frightening. 1 don’t know' how the man in the street feels about it.” He concedes that at one , time legislation output was "dragging behind” but now ■ the many amendments and alterations to legislation “have created a hyperactivLity” in society. Mr Jamieson does not .think the trend to pour through legislation is conii fined to any one political • i party, but he sees the large :! output as ultimately being to the detriment of society. I • ' ■ Beach calls 5c 1 Beach Petroleum, N.L., is making a call of 5c a share on all issued contributing shares now' paid to 45c each 1 in the capital of the company. being:— (I) fourth and final call bn 5 million contributing shares issued in ; December, 1970, and now' paid to 45c: and (II) second and final call on 10 million, contributing shares issued in February, 1973, and now: paid to 45c; (making all such shares fully paid) due and payable on March 12.