than for the Supreme Court, it would in the longer term widen
the scope for suitable outside appointments.
D
It would also to
some extent relieve any hard feelings the present District Judges
might have if the Supreme Court retiring age is raised to 65.
Furthermore it would underline the fact that District Judges,
like Supreme Court Judges, are not on the same terms and conditions
as civil servants.
Whether or not the retiring age of District Judges is
raised to 60, it is suggested that they should be given formal
security of tenure, comparable to that of Supreme Court Judges,
under local legislation providing that they may be removed from
office before 60 by the Governor only for inability or misconduct
following an investigation by a tribunal consisting of a chairman
and two members appointed on the advice of the Chief Justice from
among persons who are or have been judges. Once again, power
could be taken to appoint for a fixed term of years.
K. It is to be hoped of course that an outside appointee to
the Supreme Court will have had substantial experience of civil
and commercial work in private practice.
12
In order to give appointees to the District Court some
experience of this sort of work, consideration could perhaps be
given to sending any magistrate or crown counsel selected for
appointment to the Court on a course in suitable English,
Australian or New Zealand chambers before he takes up his appointment.
13.
It is understood that magistrates do little civil work at
present, and any steps that could be taken to widen their civil
experience would be welcome. The establishment of a magistrates'
court to deal with small civil claims might be useful in this
respect.
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