The Press and the Judge.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12516, 26 March 1904, Page 3

The Press and the Judge.

— - o COMMENTS BY T123 \~ICTOKIAN CHIEF JUSTICE. Tite Victorian Chief Justice (Sir John Madden) took the opportunity recently of replying to criticisms that nave appeared in cert c in quarts a «he work of the Judges in the Courts. The usual hour for adjourning " ha>J passed, but his Honor had intimated his intention of continuing the case before ihiim . In reply to an obsel'vaitionr by counsel that late sittings led to iin<sonvensence to clients^ the Chief Justice safcd a good deal had been iaidbfy}, a setction of ihe presk^as to the way in which 'the work of the Courts ha!d been' attended to. The press, he thought, said a good* deal abcut things tihey knew nothing of, and in regard to iJie conduct of legal business the press did not know ' what it was" talking about j but, as no.body said anything to tflie it tihought it a Judge's duty io keep on setting, even to the inconvenience of- others. The hours of the sitting of Courts had bean arranged by the Judges, so as to be suitable, as they thought, lor the public convenience, and for -the convenience of counsel and solicitors, "wiio were public agents. The business of the Courts coufld not gto on like a anatelime, and yet it shcAild not be supposed' that the Ju!dges simply consulted ,tiheir own ease i and convenience. Speaking for ' himself, ihe would, while able, sit; as long ] las nefcassary He knew all ' about j the difficulties that .cotrtnsel experienced in being unable to make appointments with their clients, and he knew, absolutely all about the work that ) haid to be done outside of tthe Court, ; and that if counsel, and solicitors had not time to arrange the work iiiat had to be done outside the Cdurts., ths busJness of the Courts would be strisog '. out and time wasted, and the publdc; would complain.- • One of tine counsel at the table here Interjected : No one takes any notice' of the press:, • " . ■\• ?. . ! - The' Obief . Jußtice (with* 1 warmth) :; Everyone says, "No one takes any.' notifce of the press/ and , evetyone does take' notice of it, and says wihat' the press says. Statements liave been made by a section of the press, in ' 'sin outrageously tinfair and grossly.", offen-' Bi)ve manner, as to the way . in which ' the business of the Courts is attended by the Jwdgeq. and I am .determined' tiiey shlould have no possible ground for s»ying such things oil me at : any rate. >