SUPREME COURT

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 March 1939, Page 5

SUPREME COURT

GRIEVANCE AT WESTPORT. [I'EB PBEBS ASSOCIATION.) WESTPORT, March 8. “There is not one trace of British justice in the whole affair,” said the Mayor (Air. ,j, Kilkenny), at a meeting oi (he Westport Borough Council tonight, during a discussion on a letter from the Westport branch of the Law Society, protesting against (he proposal to cease Supreme Court sittings at Westport. The letter slated that when the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) visited Westport, last week, he heard only three undefended petitions for divorce. and an application for release Hom bankruptcy, which prompted him to convey' to the three counsel present his view that, sittings of the Court were unwarranted at Westport, and that to (>xpect a judge to visit the place to deal with such a small amount, of business was farcical. This view, the let (ci- continued, was challenged by counsel, hut. they' failed to convert his Honor to their viewpoint. It was considered, therefore, that it is unlikely that a judge will visit 'Westport, 1 unless there is a larger volume of < business to be transacted.

The Law Society pleaded that it would be a considerable inconvenience to Buller people to visit. Greymouth for Supreme Court sittings, besides being very’ costly. Instances were given where long waits by litigants at Greymouth would prove expensive to Westport people, who, in many cases, could not. afford it. Other hardships would be incurred in jury cases, where it. was claimed it would be very expensive to fake witnesses to another district, especially in the hearing of claims for damages arising out of motor collisions.

It was also claimed that a transfer of hearing to Greymouth might cause the abandonment of reasonable cases. Again, if a case was transferred during the Greymouth sitting to Westport. the plaintiff would be deprived of a jury, as juries are summoned only where there are gazetted sittings.

MI NISTE R'S OPINI ON. A letter to the society from Mr. Webb, member for the district, was read, disclosing that he had discussed the matter with the Minister for Justice (Mr. Mason), who said that the records did not justify sittings at Westport, but. should circumstances alter the judges would readily' concur in the provision of sittings. The Mayor said it. was the duty of the judge to dispense justice inside the Court, but if Court siltings at Westport, were discontinued, people would not be given justice. He claimed (hat judges did not, like coming to Westport. in spite of the use of speci il cars and the provision of fine hotel accommodation. He said he considered it would he much more fair for the judge and associate to visit Westport than to force dozens of persons to travel to Greymouth for sittings. Many of these persons were poor, and could not. afford such a trip. The Mayor also said he considered it unfair to have people from the Buller district, with a population of 12,000, tried at. Greymouth before a strange jury, instead of before persons with whom they had been connected for years.

“We have spent. £30,000 to make Westport a real town,’’ said the Mayor, “and are spending another £25,000, and we will not be stopped by one stroke of a pen and have onr rights taken from ns in losing another of our departments to Greymouth." All councillors supported the Mayor’s viewpoint, and it was decided to ask the Buller County Council and other local organisations to join in a protest to the Minister for Justice against any proposal to abolish Supreme Court sittings at 'Westport.