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R19 JAN 12
Immediately after I arrived in the Colony in 1907
the Chief Justice raised the question of a 3rd. Judge. It was debated at much length. Sir H. May was consistently opposed on the ground that there was not enough work for a Third Judge, and on ground of cost. On 24th. February, 1908, he said "the question has been a good deal discussed of late outside Government circles and as far as I can gather the consensus of opinion is that if the work is properly dis- -tributed between the Chief Justice and Puisne Judge there is not work at present for a 3rd. Judge". This was the opinion expressed by Mr. M. Slable among others to Mr. May but he seems to have IIRIET revised it in a conversation with me 3rd. April, 1908.
Sir F. Piggott warmly supported a scheme for an Appeal Court common to the Straits Settlements, Hongkong and Shanghai - 18th. September, 1908. The whole of the correspondence was submit- -ted to the Secretary of State on 18th. July, 1908, and on 14th. September, 1908 he decided finally to adopt the scheme of borrowing the Shanghai Judge and directed me to make provision in the Estimates, It was then too late to do so, but I announced the Secretary of States decision in Legislative Council on 24th. September, 1908, and it was fully approved by the Unofficial Members. No opposition was apparently expected from the Chief Justice who however did oppose it and letter of 21st. September, 1908, to him expressed much surprise and quoted passages from his om letters in support of the principle. Thereafter the Attorney-General was instructed to draft a bill. He consulted the Crown Solicitor (31st. October, 1908) and "the leaders of the Bar and the Law Society" (12th. December, 1908) and they drew up a *Memoran- -dum of resolutions". A draft bill was dram up with the aid of Mr. Pollock and Sir H. Berkeley the 2 leaders of the Bar. The draft was referred to the Chief Justice and his criticisms in part adopted were sent to the Secretary of State with the bill on £*x*x 26th. January, 1909, to come into operation on lat. June, 1909. Sir F. Piggott's criticisms were so hostile that on May 3rd., 1909, the Secretary of State decided to drop the scheme pending Sir F. Piggott's retirement.
Sir H. Berkeley 'cting as Attorney-General and
on