SHORTHAND WRITERS IN OUR COURTS OF LAW.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 674, 30 January 1885, Page 23

SHORTHAND WRITERS IN OUR COURTS OF LAW.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Invercargill, January 28. At the close of a case in the District Court Judge Ward, referring to the great leDgtb of time occupied in taking Evidence, said “ There is one reform in the .proceedings in our Courts of Justice which we may well borrow from American practice, viz., the appointment to each Superior Court of a sworn shorthand writer, to take down the evidence, in lieu of leaving the Judges! to write them cut at full length. The present practice in New Zealand is simply ridiculous, since what has been stated by a witness at one trial may be proved, among other ways, by the Judge's notes ; bat to cite Taylor on Evidence, * This mode of proof is open to very grave, if not insuperable objections, as such notes form no part of the record, nor is it the duty of the Judge to take them, nor have they the sanction of his oath to their accuracy or completeness ’ (vide Cocradi v. Conradi, 1 Haw Rep. p. and d., 514, P- K. Wilde, 10). Butin Banco, on the imotion for a new trial, for instance, the notes taken by the Judge at the first trial are pre’Burned to be correct, and no proof of his blunders in taking down the evidence will be accepted. Practically a Judge’s notes are seldom used except in Banco. It is unnecessary also to point out the enormous saving of time to jurors, witnesses, and suitors that would be gained by the adoption of the American practice, in addition to the increased accuracy. The expense would be a mere trifle for each Court, as the shorthand writer would probably belong to the staff of a rcwspaper. I do trust the present Ministry may see their way to carry out this amendment in onr legal jprastice. Mr Wado said—l have often wondered that Judges have borne the present practice so 'long. His Honor—Tt is not the Judges ; they are •paid for their time, but juries and suitors are not ; the saving of time to them would be ..threat, and it is marvellous that the reform has not been effected long before this.