VACANCY WILL NOT BE FILLED

Northern Advocate, 28 November 1936, Page 4

VACANCY WILL NOT BE FILLED

SUPREME COURT BENCH [Per Press Association. Copyright J WELLINGTON, This Day. The Attorney-General, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, announced yesterday that it is not the intention of the Government to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court Bench, which will be created next month by the retirement of Sir John Reed, who will then have reached the retiring age of 72. Until last year the Bench consisted of the Chief Justice and eight puisne judges, but owing to the necessity created by the establishment of the Court of Review of mortgagors’ liabilities: under the Rural Mortgagors’ Final Adjustment Act, 1934-35, and the appointment of Mr Justice Johnston as judge of that Court, the Judicature Amendment Act, 1935, was passed to provide that the Supreme Court shall consist of the Chi£f Justice and nine other judges. Court of Review’s Work. The Court of Review, presided over by Mr Justice Johnston, is still in existence under the Mortgagors and Lessees’ Rehabilitation Act, 1936. The Governments aim is that the work of that Court should, as far as possible, be completed during the coming year, and, until the work is substantially completed, the ' Government finds itself unable to determine the question whether eventually the Supreme Court work will require nine permanent judges or 10. If only nine are required, it will not be necessary to fill the vacancy that will arise till next month.

In the meantime, owing to Mr Justice Johnston’s services being still required in the Court of Review, and to the absence on leave during next year of another judge and the Government having decided not to appoint a permanent judge immediately, the appointment of a temporary judge for a year is necessary. Temporary Judge.

As by Statute a temporary judge can be appointed only on the recommendation of the Chief Justice and no fewer than three other judges, the Attorney-General has referred the matter to the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, who,' after consulting his colleagues, has intimated that the judges will, in the circumstances, make the necessary recommendation. The Government has accordingly requested Sir‘John Reed to accept the position of temporary judge for a year, and this His Honour has agreed to do.