Grey River Argus and Blackball News FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1922. GOING SLOW OR SPEEDING UP?

Grey River Argus, 13 October 1922, Page 4

Grey River Argus and Blackball News

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1922. GOING SLOW OR SPEEDING UP?

Delivered every morning In Gre juth. K>— Hokitika, Dob son, Wallsend, Taylo. ,’illc. Ngahcre. Blackball, Nelson Creek, Brunner, Te Kingha Rvtomanu, Poerua, Inchbonnie, Patara, Ruru, Kaunata, Kotukv Moana, Aratika, Dur.ollie, Cobden, Baxter’s, Kokiri, Ahaura, Ikainatua, Btiilwater. Waiuta, Reelton, Ross, Ruatapua, Manaqul Hari Hari, Waiho Gorge, Weheka. Rewanui, Otira-. Inangabua Junction, Westport, Waimangaroa, Denniston, Gianity, Millerton. Ngakawau. Hector* SeddonvillOt Cape Fouhvind. and Karames.

It might be unfair to say the “Greymouth Evening Star” would accuse the Supreme 'Court of “go-slow” tactics. It is only the miners who go slow, we believe. Yet it says “it took practically the whole interval from the June to the September’ sittings before the judgments reserved at the former Court were delivered to those concerned.” There was no intention here to allege a “go-slow” policy, because the “Star” remarks that “there seems to be a tendency to ‘rush’ the West Coast Courts by those arranging the sessions.” We wonder who they are! What troubles our contemporary is that it thinks the Court should go more slowly, while in session on the Coast, but should hurry up with its reserved decisions. For instance, it hopes that more expedition will be forthcoming regarding the “Sunday pictures case.” That s-eems a broad hint to a Judge, of whom the “Star” says, that he “is admittedly overworked.” Why make matters worse, then, by trying to speed up His Honour? It is far better that our justiciary should take the time necessary to reach matured judgments—and they don't need to remain, on the Coast for that purpose, even though our climate is invigorating to body and mind alike—than that we should get hasty verdicts involving, possibly, greater delay than ever through appeals going before a higher Court. We aro not aware of a case where our Judges have been previously given a hint to “get a move on” mentally! If they are equal to doing so physically on the Coast, so much to the good. The faculties of ratiocination may be instant in their action, given all the necessary data, but it takes time to muster the said data. A consultation with expert colleagues may be essential, and they may not be all available just when some litigant becomes over anxious about his case. It would be a fine thing if somebody would invent a legal ready reckoner, that would manufacture correct decisions, fully in accord with precedent, just as quickly as a cash register works. However, till such time as mechanical apparatus to untie legal gordian knots results from the progress of mechanical inventiveness, we shall doubtless have to rest content with the less automatic process of the human intellect, and to put up with the necessity for considered verdicts.