ONCE MORE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 175, 28 July 1888, Page 2

ONCE MORE.

A short time ago we drew attention to the inconvenience, loss of time, delay, and unnecessary trouble occasioned to suitors in the R.M. Court by the present very absurd arrangements under which Mr Booth is compelled to leave the district for weeks at a time. The point of those remarks was forcibly illustrated on Thursday last when the Harbor Board cases were called on. Mr Bourke, Secretary to the Harbor Board, is absent in Wellington, and without his evidence it would be impossible to go on with the cases, so it was absolutely necessary that they should be adjourned. In the ordinary course they would be adjourned until next Court day, which would be the following Thursday. Mr Booth’s arrangements, however, compel him to leave for the coast, prior to that day, and it is stated that he will not again preside in the Gisborne R.M. Court before August 30. After some discussion and a stretching of a point, it was agreed to take these cases on Monday afternoon, Mr Bourke being expected back by the Tarawera on Sunday. Surely this is a travesty of justice 1 Suitors having to await the convenience of the Court instead of the Court being made, as far as possible, to suit the convenience of suitors I Who ever heard of such a thing ? There is quite a possibility that something may arise which will cause another adjournment of these cases, and in such an event they will have to stand over until August 30, or, if anything happens by which they are kept back, until Sept. 3, when the Supreme Court is gazetted to sit. It is quite possible they will not be heard before the middle of September. It is likewise probable that these Harbor cases are only a few of similar instances that will happen. For upwards of a month no claim exceeding /20 will be heard. Some people, no doubt, will relish this respite, but we are inclined to think that creditors, and, indeed, all right-minded people will look at the matter from a different point of view. As we stated on the former occasion, we have no fault to find with Mr Booth personally. We believe he tries to perform all his duties in a conscientious manner, and there is no doubt the defective arrangement adds considerably

to his labors, besides putting him to a great deal of personal ineonvenience. But we do blame the officials, whoever they may be, who are responsible for such a state of affairs, and we cannot emphasize too strongly that some alteration must be made, and the sooner the better.