Judicial Independence.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5259, 15 May 1895, Page 3

Judicial Independence.

JUDGE MOLES WORTH IN REPLY. [Spkjiai, to Prbss Association. I

MELBOURNE, Mat 15. Judge Moleswortb, in replying to the

Premier in reference to the remarks he

made from the bench in connection with J. B. Davies'a insolvency, says he spoke in the public interest. Ib waft not for the publio interest that an insolvency judge should be Bnbject to a dependent position, aod that there should be reasonable ground for the public to fear that in doing what he believed to be hia duty be might bn acting against his own interests by offendiug influential members of Parliament. In the cities there were a number of cases where such members with wide-reaching social influence ebecame insolvent for amounts ranging over a million, and the judges had to decide all cases without the intervention of a jury ; thus urging a strong plea in favour of making the Insolvency Court independent of political influence. Hiß Honor further says that a statement on the sub-

ject of judicial independence was signed . by all the County Court

judgeß, and presented to the Government last August, but up to the present it had not been Answered. He also alleges that in applying for Bick leave he wbb treated as a malingerer, and that in December last stepß were taken by the Solicitor-Genera' to remove him .from Melbourne, bnt were afterwards abandoned. In conclusion, he cays it certainly appears to him that there are good grounds for believing that the public, who are the sufferers where members of Parliament are concerned, might not

believe that a judge in such a position ia able to dispense impartial justice without fear, favour or affection.