MALAY STATES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18235, 2 November 1933, Page 2

MALAY STATES

BARRISTER ON HOLIDAY COURT WORK IN SINGAPORE Accompanied by his wife,' Dr. C. 11. "Withers Payne, LL.M., LL.D. (London), barrister-at-law, of Singapore, arrived in Wellington from Sydney on a holiday trip. Dr. Payne left Singapore in September. Ho has. .been;in Australian for three or four weeks,, and intends spending a month in New Zealand. Speaking to a Wellington Post representative, Dr. Payne dealt briefly, with, the judicial system of the Federated Malay States, and provided some glimpses of the life ■there. . . Dr. Payne is an advocate and solicitor of thje-Supreme • Coui-t of the Straits Settlements, and author of several publications. . , Just as in New Zealand, the two branches of the profession, barristers and solicitors, are combined in the Malay States, said Dr. Payne. There - was a great deal of court work. in Singapore, ■particularly mercantile work. The court system was on the lines of that of Great Britain,- there being regular assizes • arid .co/emj with appeals, to the:Judicial Committee of the Privy. Council. As an illustration of; the amount of -work, ..he. mentioned that there were five police: coupts in Singapore and two cjv.il district courts. Natives were concerned in practically all the criminal cases. Only barristers and solicitors who had graduated jin.. Great Britain were admitted to the Bar..■ . The -interpreting) system was rather wonderful,- continued Dr. Payne,,, The proceedings, were conducted, in English, and this resulted in the.employment of a large number of interpreters. “You will probably be interested to know,” proceeded Dr. Payne, with a smile, “that there is no income tax where I come from; and Singapore being a free port, there is no Customs.” Dr.' Payne -said ’{that the constitution of the Federated Malay States w.as gradu.-. ally being changed by giving back to the sultans of the Federated States powera similar to tlio-se at present exercised by sultans in the unfederatod States. There was a desire on the part .of the. Malays for a greater share in the administration of the affairs of the country_ There;was plenty.of racing, tennis, and golf.in Singapore, Dr. Payne added. Rickshaws -wore' being, displaced in the streets by motor-ears. -'