Court changes

Press, 29 September 1979, Page 6

Court changes

PA Wellington' | Changes in the courts structure announced recently are made in the Courts Amendment Bill.' which was introduced in Parliament ; yesterday. This follows ] recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Courts. The Supreme Court will become rhe High Court, and Magistrates’ Courts District Courts. Magistrates will become district court judges. The District Courts’ civil jurisdiction is increased from $3OOO to $12,000. The bill among other provisions increases the number of Appeal Court judges and makes minor changes in the qualifications for judges. The right of appeal to the Privy Council remains. The Minister of Justice (Mr McLay) said the bill, | with the Family Courts Bill ' to be introduced later, cov-

' ered more than 30 recommendations of the Royal Commission. The Opposition spokesman on justice, (Mr R. W. Prebble) and another Labour lawyer, Mr F. D. O’Flynn, Q.C., questioned the necessity to change the names of the courts. “We should be looking at the reasons why the number of court cases is increasing while the population is not,” Mr Prebble said. He skid the new structure might result in more cases, and more expensive ones. Mr O’Flynn, questioning the name change, commented: “changing names does not change much.” Mr McLav said the changes in name were being made because of changes in the courts’ functions. The bill was referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.