THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE PRIVY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2688, 20 September 1905, Page 26

THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE PRIVY COUNCIL.

( LONDON, September 14. | The Daily Chronicle, referring to Sir Robert Stout's statement re Privy Council delays, declares that the formation of an Imperial Court of Appeal, securing regular services of the b~est judicial talent of the Empire, might well engage the attention of the next Colonial Conference. WELLINGTON, September 14. Sir Robert Stout, in a letter to the New j Zealand Times, ieferring to the published denial by the Lord Chancellor of the de-lay in dealing with colonial cases before the Privy Council, says that during the last 15 I years 29 New Zealand cases have been dei cided by the Privy Council. Three of these ' took, from the date of the final decision by the New Zealand Court to the date of the Privy Council's decision, from nine montlis to under one year ; 13 took over one year and under two years; nine took between two and three years; two, three to four years ; one, over five ; and one required i seven, years. The Chief Justice adds.;.— <

"The Lord Chancellor has assumed that I blamed the Privy Council for the delay, but I did not state who, in my opinion, was to blame. I said, and I repeat, that a judicial system under which such delays occur requires reformation."