DISTRICT COURTS

Evening Star, Issue 14053, 7 May 1909, Page 6

DISTRICT COURTS

r W ELLIN GTON, May 7. Tlie Attorney-General (Dr Findlay), speaking to a ‘Post’ reporter cm. the subject of the abolition of district courts, said that the only objection to the course taken by the Government came from the West Coast. In the place of district courts, the Government intended to arrange for sittings of the Supreme Court at Westport, Greymouth, and Hokitika as often as work was required. He had no doubt that when the people on the West Coast, realised what improved facilities were'substituted for the present system- they would cordially endorse the action of the Government. The Minister added that apart from bankruptcy work, which was almost entirely formal, the District Court work on the West Coast during 1907 consisted of six civil and six criminal cases, and during 1908 the civil cases numbered twelve and the criminal three, which necessitated a special journey by the District Court Judge to that district four times a year; besides which, the Supreme Court Judge holds sittings of the Court twice a year, and the Magistrate's Court sits regularly and frequently. It is understood that Mr Haselden will ticoffered the position of stipendiary magistrate. ' .