HONOUR FOR JUDGE

Taranaki Daily News, 15 February 1933, Page 8

HONOUR FOR JUDGE

SEAT On commission. INVITATION FROM AMERICA. At the invitation of -Mr. -Herbert ■ Hoover, President of the United States, Mr. Justice Smith, of Auckland, has accepted an appointment as a non-national member of the permanent commission created under the 1914 Treaty of Conciliation between the United States ana Peru. Advice of his acceptance is to be forwarded to Washington. The commission was brought into existence to deal with differences in the ’ affairs of the two countries which cannot ibe settled by diplomatic means or arbitration. It consists of five members, an ‘ American national, a Peruvian national, a non-national member appointed by the United States, a non-national member appointed by Peru, and a member appointed by both countries. " ’ . ’ The treaty with Peru was one of a series entered into by the United States with a number of countries. Permanent commissions, such as that with Peru, have been created under these treaties. In the event of a sitting of the United States-Peru permanent commission--ar-rangements would be necesary with the New Zealand Government regarding his Honour’s temporary absence from the Bench. The place of meeting would be a matter for the two countries concerned in the commission. Mr. Justice Smith was sworn in as 8 Judge of the Supreme Court in April, 1928. He presided at his first sitting in Auckland in September of that year, and, since then he has, with Mr. Justice Herdman, regularly presided at sitting* of the Court in the Auckland judicial " district Prior to his elevation to the position of judge he was prominent in legal circles in Wellington.