Judicial Appointments

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 183, 30 April 1940, Page 9

Judicial Appointments

Sir, —“Practitioner” has performed a public service in drawing attention in your columns to the recent appointment of a judge of the Arbitration. Court. It is admitted that the appointee is a man of many gifts; but he does not possess those qualifications of practical legal experience that from time immemorial have been regarded as essential to the fulfilment of tlie onerous responsibilities of tlie high office of judge. . May I quote from a newspaper report of a speech delivered by Lord Justice ■Atkin at tlie University of London?. “It was a mistake to suppose that because a man was highly educated, a skilled administrator, and an excellent man of business, he was therefore qualified to decide disputes between man and man. The judge’s job was one that had to be learned by long experience. Is It clear that the recent appointment is authorized by law'? As a layman I would be interested to read an authoritative opinion on this point. In recent years we have seen several instances of unauthorized appointments to various offices—appointments which it has been necessary to ratify subsequently by special legislation. On the spur of the moment I can recall at least t wo—that of Mr. C. L. Hunter to a position in the Public Service and that of Mr. Silverstone to the directorate of the Reserve Bonk.—l am, etc., IjAYAIAN . Wellington, April 27.