SHORTAGE OF JUDGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 August 1946, Page 6

SHORTAGE OF JUDGES

<o COURT BUSINESS DELAYED IN WELLINGTON (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 2. Several lawyers in Wellington have individually expressed dissatisfaction at the position which has arisen as the result of the delay in tlie appointment of a successor to the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers. An immediate effect is the jury list which was to have been called next week has been cancelled, and no sittings on civil cases will be possible until Monday week, when the first of the available judges will return from his circuit. The registrar of the Supreme Court said that all cases set. down for next week will be moved probably three weeks back. With the absence in Japan of Mr. Justice Northcroft and the occupation of Mr. Justice Smith' on the report of the Royal Commission on Licensing, the Bench is short of three judges since Sir Michael Myers’ retirement. A lawyer with many years practice in Wellington said that this was the first time he could recall a complete lack of judges in the capital, although other centres had been in that position occasionally.