JUDGES’ SALARIES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5560, 23 January 1879, Page 3

JUDGES’ SALARIES.

(From the New Zealand Jurist.)

The salaries of the District Judges exhibit a curious degree of unevenness, for which it is not easy to suggest a reason. They appear as follows in the appropriations for the year;— Auckland £IOOO New Plyraauth .. .. .. .. 600 Wellington 650 Napier .. 760 Nelson .. .. 700 Westland 750 Timam .. 000 Ducdin 700 Otago Goldfields.. .. .. .. 800' In addition to the salaries a sum of £ISOO is appropriated for travelling expenses. The Judges are required to perform other duties in addition to their own. For instance, the Judge in Auckland is also Chief Judge of the Native Land Court, and in that capacity receives £BOO a year, an additional £2OO being received as Judge of the District Court. The Judge at New Plymouth is a Eesident Magistrate at £2OO, and an Examiner of Titles at £IOO ; the Judge at Wellington is Eesident Magistrate at £3OO, and a Kegistration and Keturning Officer at nil. (He has also been gazetted a coroner, and in that capacity receives, we believe, a fee of £2 2s. for each of the dead bodies.) The Judge at Napier enjoys the additional dignities of a Eesident Magistrate at £3OO, a Eegistration and Eeturuing Officer at £6O, and a Frauds Commissioner at £IOO. The Judge at Nelson is a Eesident Magistrate at £3OO, and a Eevising Officer at £IOO. So long as this accumulation of underpaid offices exists, it is not to be expected that competent men should be found to fill the office of District Judge. It is surely important enough to bo placed on a proper footing, so as to become a desirable thing in the eyes of professional men. The Judge of a District Court should not he required to perform any other duties, and his salary should in no case be less than £IOOO, with travelling ex-, penses added.