PRIVY COUNCIL

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 17, 21 January 1937, Page 6

PRIVY COUNCIL

JUDICIAL COMMITTEE

AUCKLANDER IMPRESSED ;By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 20. An interesting description of the procedure followed before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council was given this morning by Mr. J. Stanton, City Solicitor, who returned by the Napier Star from London after conducting an appeal case for ihe Auckland City Council against a decision of the New Zealand Appeal Court that debenture payments amounting to J £1,227,000 would have to be made in j sterling. Judgment was reserved. I

Mr. Stanton said the experience was most interesting and he was impressed by the informality- of the proceedings in that five Judges discussed matters with counsel rather than listened to prepared addresses. No wigs or gowns were worn and the Judges occupied floor seats on the same level as those of the four counsel. The Court was held in unpretentious buildings and the public accommodation was limited to about 20 persons. The hearing occupied two days from 10.30 ajn. to 4 p.m. The decision procedure is that notification is given of the promulgation of the decision on a certain-date when counsel attend and the Registrar reads the effective passages of the judgment, the Judges usually being absent.

The action was a friendly one arranged by the Council and the Auckland Transport Board with the Alliance Assurance Company over tramway bonds.