Court opening time

Press, 23 August 1984, Page 20

Court opening time

Sir* — Recently I had to attend a Small Claims Court hearing. As the time for the hearing was set at 9.30 a.m., I arrived with some time to spare but as the doors were still closed, returned to my car and waited till closer to 9.30. At approximately 9.25 I returned to the building to find that the doors were still locked and that we had to wait on the footpath until the building was opened. By this time a small crowd of people had gathered, but it was noticeable that staff employed in the building gained admittance through the rear of the building. If a person is to attend at 9.30 a.m., surely it would only be courteous to admit those involved at an earlier time to let them get familiar with the building and where they should appear. There are foyers and chairs available and obviously staff at an earlier hour, and I feel that it is demeaning and obstructive to treat users of a public facility in this way. — Yours, etc., JOHN W. SAXBY. August 14, 1984.

[The Christchurch District Court Registrar, Mr R. B. Twidle, replies: “The hours during which the District Court office can be open are fixed by Rule 11 of the District Court Rules, 1948, as being from 9.30 am. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. When a Court sitting is scheduled for 9.30 a.m. it has been the practice of this office to open the main doors to the office at 9.25 a.m. It would appear that to prevent inconvenience to the public, the doors should be opened earlier. I thank your correspondent for bringing this matter to my attention and I apologise for any embarrassment and inconvenience which may have been caused.”]