ARBITRATION COURT

Southland Times, Issue 23208, 25 May 1937, Page 8

ARBITRATION COURT

APPOINTMENT OF JUDGE POSSIBILITY OF TWO (United Press Association) MASTERTON. May 24. The Attorney-General (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) stated today that because of the illness of Mr Justice Page, the judge of the Arbitration Court, and to the leave of absence granted him for six months, it had become necessary to appoint a judge of the Supreme Court to act as the judge of the Arbitration Court and to appoint an additional judge of the Supreme Court to hold office for the unexpired portion of the period of six mouths for which Mr Justice Page has been granted leave of absence. The Government had decided to recommend to the Governor-General (Lord Galway) that Mr ,P. O’Regan, a barrister and solicitor of Wellington, be appointed to the position and the Governor-General has now signed the necessary Order-in-Council appointing Mr O’Regan to be the additional judge of the Supreme Court for the residue of Mr Justice Page’s leave of absence. Mr Mason stated that Mr O’Regan’s appointment would not come into force till June 1, when he would be put on to Arbitration Court work. The Minister also stated that for some time the Government had had under consideration the question of whether the work of the Conciliation and Arbitration Courts, was not sufficient to require the services of two judges. This question would be decided between now and the next session of Parliament when, in the event of a change being decided upon, the necessary legislation would be passed.