FEDERAL HIGH COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7727, 10 June 1903, Page 3

FEDERAL HIGH COURT.

THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS. United Press Association — 'By Electrio Telegraph — Copyright. (Received June 10, 9.34 a.m.) MELBOURNE, June 10. In the Federal House Mr Deakin, explaining the Judiciary Bill, said the right of appeal to the Privy Council from the High Court was taken a-way and there was provided instead an appeal by grace, with the consent of three out of the five judges comprising thef High Court. He, however, had no doubt' that, within a few years, ninety-nine out of every hundred of the cases that now went to the Privy Council would! remain in Australia^ and- the High Court would practically be the final Court of Appeal. It Avas intended to draw the best judges from all parts of Australia to form the Federal Bench. He* mentioned that at t'hc present time the aggregate annual expenditure of the States' administration of justice in all its branches was £1,750,000. The establishment of the High Court would' reduce the expenditure. Two members spoke in opposition to the Bill, and 1 the debate was adjourned. (In the Federal House of Representatives yesterday, Mr Deakin ? in moving the second reading of the Judiciary Bill, said that it was practically the same Bill as that introduced' last year. Combined with the -Procedure Bill to, follow, it would provide the complete equipment of a High Court. The object was to create an Australian Court of Appeal, which would " decide finally matters affected by local laws, and so minimise the number of cases sent to the Privy Council, with the attendant delays and great expense. Touching delays and dangers, he said that it took the Privy Council from ime to five years to deal with appeals, the average being twenty-one month?. He instanced the recent New Zealand case to show the risks of appealing to the Privy Council on questions of purely local ylaws. The total cosfc of the High Courtf was estimated) at £30,000.)