Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1925. LAW’S UNTERTATNTIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 June 1925, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1925. LAW’S UNTERTATNTIES

The law-abiding’ character of West Coasters is once more proved by the absence of criminal eases at the Supreme Court sittings throughout the district, and it is safe to claim that no other part of the Dominion —and perhaps, for that matter the whole Empire —lias so clean and consistent a record. Moreover, a large proportion of what crime does occur in tiiese parts is duo to non-residents, thus, altogether West Coasters are entitled to praise for the good show-

ing made. Those dwellers in other centres of New Zealand who knowing' nothing of the Coast, refer to it as “wild and woolly” prove by such assertions their own ignorance, and if other districts were as .well-behaved as;, the Coast. Judges would have no ’reason to complain of overwork. Civil litigation, here, is ’also kept at a minimum, with the result that the Supreme Court sittings bring no great demand on the visiting Judge’s time and attention. Nor are Coasters encouraged by the authorities to be litigious, as things are rarely made easy for principals, witnesses, or solicitors. The date of the sitting of the Supreme Court, as originally fixed, is seldom adhered to, and when the Judge does actually arrive, the hour for the commencement of business is uncertain. The respective parties, their lawyers, and the witnesses—often brought from considerable distances—attend the ' Court, at the appointed time, but occasionally find that they are called upon to wait about, the Court’s precincts for hours, through no fault, of their own. These delays mean extra expense, and much inconvenience, and after one or more of such experiences, it is understandable why litigation is unpopular. Other centres are not given the treatment extended to the Coast. Their Supreme Court sittings are conducted on more business-like lines, thus it is not surprising that their Court lists are generally heavy, with promise of more to come. We do not, of course, definitely claim. that this is an instance of cause and effect, but simply draw attention to the coincidence. Any Coaster tempted to feel aggrieved at the lack of thought shown for his convenience, or inclined to protest at the extra expense involved, should try to believe that the law’s uncertainties are for his, or the country’s, ultimate good. If the set time-table were adhered to, we might all yearn to be litigants, whereas under the present methods, the paths of plaintiff and defendant are far from smooth or seductive. Judges, who find that the lists at other district Courts arc getting heavy, should try the effect, there of the methods used on the Coast. There might be some grumbling, at first, but the uncertainty would be got used to in time, and any objectors could be- told that Coasters accepted such ways with patience, and what was considered good enough for them must be regarded as fair for everybody else. There would be little harm in Judges trying the experiment, and if this suggestion does not appeal to them, perhaps, they might like to try giving this district the consideration customary in other centres.