SIR JOHN REED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20587, 28 November 1936, Page 19 (Supplement)

SIR JOHN REED

FURTHER YEAR ON BENCH By Telegraph—Press. Association WELLINGTON, November 27. The Attorney-General (Hon. H. G. R. Mason) announces that it is not the intention of the Government to fill immediately the vacancy on the Supreme Court bench which will be created next month by the retirement of Sir John Reed, who will then have reached the retiring age of 72. Until last year the bench consisted of the Chief Justice and eight puisne judges, but owing to the necessity created by the establishment of the Court of Review of mortgagors’ liabilities under the Rural Mortgagors Final Act, 1934-35, and the appointment of Mr Justice Johnston as judge of that court, the Judicature Amendment Act, 1935, was passed to provide that the Supreme Court shall consist of the Chief Justice and nine other judges. The Court of Review, presided over by Mr Justice Johnston, is still in existence under the Mortgagors and Lessees Rehabilitation Act, 1936. The Government’s aim is that the work of that court should as far as possible be completed during the coming year, and until the work is substantially completed the Government finds itself unable to determine the question whether eventually the Supreme Court work will require nine permanent judges or ten. If only nine arc required it would not be necessary to fill the vacancy that will arise next month.

Owing to Mr Justice Johnston’s services being still required in the Court of Review and to the absence on leave during next year of another judge and the Government having decided not to appoint a permanent judge immediately, the appointment of a temporary judge for a year is necessary. As by Statute a temporary judge can be appointed only on the recommendation of the Chief Justice and not fewer than three other judges, the AttorneyGeneral has referred the matter to the Chief Justice who, after consulting his colleagues, has intimated that the judges will in the circumstances make tl necessary recommendation. The Government has accordingly requested Sir John Reed to accept the position of temporary judge for a year, and this his Honour has agreed to do.