Sir,
SPEECH BY THE HON. ATTORNEY GENERAL (ACTING) IN MOVING ADJOURNMENT OF SECOND READING DEBATE ON MAGISTRATES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1973 IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, 20th JUNE 1973.
I move that the Second Reading of the Magistrates
(Amendment) Bill 1973 be further adjourned.
It is essential, Sir, in the interest of accused
persons and in the public interest, that there should be no
avoidable delay in bringing accused persons to trial.
It was
this consideration which led the Government, in the face of a.
steady rise in the number of criminal cases, to propose both the
increase in the sentencing powers of the District Judges and the
increase in the sentencing powers of certain magistrates, so
as to provide a means whereby a build-up of cases awaiting trial
could be tackled if necessary
without I repeat, if necessary
overburdening the Supreme Court. This Council has just given
HOR
a Second Reading to the Bill seeking an increase in the sentencing
powers of the District Judges and, subject to the further agree-
ment of this Council, that proposal will take effect in the
near future. near
Will that suffice for the time being? Ought time to
be taken to consider further the related proposal to which the
Magistrates (Amendment) Bill will give effect? These questions
have received the most careful examination since the Bill was
introduced into this Council.
The Bill had, as a Bill of this nature must have, the
general support of the former Chief Justice. A further examination
of the proposal has now been conducted, in consultation with the
present Chief Justice, against the background of its purpose,
that is, the early disposal in particular of more serious cases.