ARBITRATION COURT

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 434, 15 May 1937, Page 6

ARBITRATION COURT

TEMPORARY JUDGESHIP Mr P. J. O’Regan Appointed Press Association —Copyright. Wellington, May 14. Mr P. J. O’Regan, Wellington, is to be appointed temporary judge for the six mouths that Mr Justice Pag-e has been granted leave of absence, because of ill-health, from his duties as President of. the Arbitration Court. Since the present Government came into office, and even before that time, there haF been much discussion whether a single judge could cope with the work of the Arbitration Court, and it is believed the Government may have in view the possibility of the division of the work of the court in such ntanner as to utilise .the services of two judges. This, however, would be a matter for. legislation. Former n ember of Parliament, Mr O’Regan hag practised law for more than 30 years at Wellington, and his skill is well known throughout the Dominion. He was born at Charleston in 1869, the son of a gold digger and farmer. Mainly self-educated, he had eight months at a private school when he was. 14 years of age He left his father’s farm for journalism and became editor of the Raefton Guardian and the Inangahua Times. In 1893 Mr O’Regan won the Inangahua seat in the House of Repreu sen-tatives- and at the next election he. successfully fought Buller' After he lost the Btluler teat in 1899 he Began the study of law. amending Victoria University College at Wellington. He commenced praficq at Wellington in 1905. and he has since become known for bis advocacy of Workers’ Compensatian Reform.