COPY.
Enclosure 5.
151
23402
Rees
(Rec 29 JUN 06
Supreme Court,
Hongkong, 15th. May,1908.
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge Your Ex-
-cellency's letter of 25th. April (Confidential: 2184/1906/0.8.0.);
with reference to my suggestion that an additional Judge should
be appointed to the Supreme Court.
2.
If I have given Your Excellency the impres-
-sion that I was impelled to make the suggestion on account of
the onerous nature of the duties which now fall on the Chief
Justice i should much regret it, as nothing was further from my
thoughts. On the contrary, I believe that his work would become
more onerous were another Judge to be appointed, as he would
relieve the Chief Justice of work which now simply fritters away
his time, thereby enabling important cases to come on more rapid-
-ly for hearing before him. The principal reason which has in-
-duced me to make the recommendation is that the conditions under
which the business of the Supreme Court in its Original Jurisdic-
-tion is carried on are not conducive to the effective and speedy
administration of justice. There is also a personal reason which
i will explain presently.
Is Excellency
8.
My experience is that delay in this matter
rarely forms the subject of formal complaint, either by the Ear
or the public, unless a case of exceptional gravity arises. The
suitor is generally only too glad to be rid of his litigation:
and when he has paid his bill of costs he takes no further
trouble over a matter which he thought serious while the litiga-
Sir Matthew Nathan, K.O.M.G.,
-tion
Governor, &c...