A WISE EXTENSION

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 48, 25 August 1945, Page 6

A WISE EXTENSION

at ban Francisco msmutea tne International Court of Justice, and he wa; able also to make a valuable contrl bution to the work of the New Zealand delegation in other sections of the United Nations Conference. Furthei conferences are probable to carry or the work begun at San Francisco, anc in these the Government will doubtlesi wish to retain the knowledge anc experience of the Chief Justice. There is a furthei- reason for .the extensior of his Honour's term of office. Th< war emergency has necessitated th< adoption of many expedients. The normal statutory form of law has beer extended in a mass of regulation; emanating from the Executive. Th< functions of the Executive have beei extended into the, judicial sphere. Ii retracing a course —as it should be retraced —to an appropriate and desirabL redefinition of legislative, executive and judicial functions, difficult pro< blems will be encountered. Mr. Frasei spoke rightly of "the complex anc difficult circumstances that doubtless will attend the transition from war tc peace." In such circumstances it h eminently necessary that the highes judicial office should be occupied bj one of exceptional ■ experience anc proved zeal for the maintenance ol those principles of law and justice thai are a basic guarantee of our liberties

It is gratifying that the Government has decided to confirm Sir Michael Myers in the office of Chief Justice for a term beyond the statutory retiring age and that his Honour has consented to this extension. As the Prime Minister stated in announcing this decision, the Chief Justice was eminent among the jurists whose deliberations