THE JUDICIARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2305, 25 September 1908, Page 2

THE JUDICIARY.

SEPARATE APPEAL COURT. INCREASE OF SALARIES AND A NEW JUDGE. (Special to “Times.”) WELLINGTON, Sop. 24. The Judiciary Bill, introduced by Dr. Findlay, lias been greatly altered in comparison with last year’s Bill.lt os not expected that tlio measuro will become law this session. It is provided tflint tlio Court of Appeal Shall cease to consist of tlio- Judges of the Supremo Court and shall consist of three Judges who shall not be also Judges of the Supreme Court. One of the three Judges shall hold the office and bear the title of Chief Justice, and shall be the President- of the Court of Appeal. The Chief Justice and the other Judges of the Court of Appeal are to bo styled Justices of Appeal. The Court of Appeal constituted under the Bill slt.ill for all purposes be deemed to be the same Court as the Court of Appeal established by the principal Act. The Judge who holds the office of Chief Justice of tlio -Supreme Court shall become the Chief J ustice of New Zealand and a Justice of Appeal. The order of precedence pf Justices of Appeal is fixed according to the seniority of appointment.' If the Bill is passed, two of the present puisine Judges are to be appointed Justices of Appeal, and automatically cease to be Judges of the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice is to receive a salary of £2OOO per annum, and each of the two Justices of Appeal £IBOO. Judges appointed to the new Anpellate Court shall not, by reason of their resultant retirement from the Supreme Court, he entitled to any superannuation -under the principal Act. The period of service as Judge of the Supreme Court shall be counted in computing any superannuation allowance to which such Judges may thereafter become entitled on their retirement- from the Court of Appeal. iSo far as procedure is concerned, the Governor may, at any time, by Order-in-Conncil, authorise and empower the Judges of the Supreme Court to sit together with the Justices of Appeal on the hearing -and determination of any specified appeal or other matter in the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court is to consist- of four Judges, each of whom is to receive £IBOO per annum after the constitution of the Appellate Court. An additional Judge is to be appointed, und this will involve tlio appointment of a new Judge. (District Courts are to he abolished, and actions pending in those Courts are to he transferred to Supreme Courts.