JUDGE AND PROSECUTOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19391, 28 July 1926, Page 15

JUDGE AND PROSECUTOR

PREPARATION OF CASES. BUSINESS MUST BE READY. THE POSITION IN AUCKLAND. A paiticularlc lengthy fist of cases for trial evidently created a slight hitch in the arrangements for hearings on the first day of the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court yesterday, and this drew some sharp comment from Mr. Justice Herdman when the hearing of one trial was resumed after luncheon.

"I understand the Crown has another case this afternoon ?" he said to Mr. I'aterson, who appeared for the Crown. "I do not think so. sir!" replied Mr. Paterson. He said that the case on which the Court was then engaged would take the remainder of the afternoon. "But it is now half-way through!" said His Honor. "It seems ridiculous." Mr. Paterson said that there was little hope of the case being finished until late in the afternoon, and no other cases would follow that day. "We will never get through the criminal list if the Crown does not have its cases ready His Honor rejoined. "It is very difficult the first day, sir; said Mr. Paterson,

It, is done even; vhere else was His

Honor's answer. But they do not have so many cases anywhere else argued Mr. Paterson. "There are two Crown solicitors here to do the work,'' said His Honor. "That is the difficulty," remarked Mr. Paterson.

His Honor: If we can't have an improvement it might be better to revert to the old system of having one Judge to take all the cases.

It is all in the hands of Mr. Meredith, sir Mr. Paterson stated.

His Honor: The grand jury must have brought in several bills. T shall expect that there will be another case after this. Very well, sir said Mr. Paterson. The case on trial lasted until nearly four, when another case was brought forward.