JUDGES KEPT BUSY

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 272, 12 August 1932, Page 12

JUDGES KEPT BUSY

Congestion of Fixtures JURY CASES UNFINISHED Last Friday the jury disagreed in the case in which William Varian Wilson, clerk of works and registered accountant, Petone, aged 74, claimed £779 damages from Henry Norman Hansen, tunneller, of Moera. The claim arose out of a collision between a cycle ridden by Wilson and a motor-car driven by defendant. Mr. Justice Ostler made a note ordering a new trial; Application was made to Mr. Justice Blair this week by counsel to have a fixture made in the present session for the new trial to take place. His Honour looked at the list of fixtures and found it so congested that it was impossible at present to fix a date. The present list is a very heavy one. The jury cases have not yet been disposed of, and the list of cases to be heard by a judge alone is an extremely long one. Already some cases have exceeded the time it was estimated they would occupy, and this has necessitated alterations in the fixtures. Further, owing to Mr. Justice Adams being on leave prior to retiring, another judge has had to go on circuit to attend to the business at Christchurch. The Chief Justice, the Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Myers, has also a heavy programme before him for the next two or three weeks. At present Mr. Justice Reed is taking the criminal session in Wellington, and civil business is being taken by Mr. Justice Blair. Mr. Justice McGregor is in Christchurch.