JUDGE WANTED

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14364, 15 May 1920, Page 5

JUDGE WANTED

* - ALSO RESIDENT MAGISTRATE. COURT RETURNS COMPARED. HAMILTON LEADS DUNEDIN, Mr 11. T. Gillies, at the annual meeting of the Hamilton Law Society, expressed the opinion that it would be right for the Society to advocate the appointment of a Judge resident in Hamilton. lie had found out the business transacted at Dunedin, where there was a judge, and compared it with Dial done in Hamilton. Tim figures were rattier surprising. Taking the criminal cases for 1919, the number of silling days in Hamilton was HI, and in Dunedin 2i; civil sitting days in Hamilton :it and in Dunedin 19. The number of writs issued in Hamilton was double the number issued m Dunedin. In one branch—■ probate and administration, registration and search —Dunedin led. hut in actual Court work Hamilton was ahead. In the Magistrate's Court, too, the actual amount of Court work was greater in Hamilton than in Dunedin. In 1919, in Hamilton the amount sued for was £20.000, and the amount recovered £10,173. In Dunedin th 3 amount sued for was £20,005. and the amount recovered £8915. Yet a magistrate was in Dunedin all the year round, while in Hamilton the magistrate was here for only a fifth of his time, with the result that he was very much overworked.