CO129-347 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [4-6] — Page 30

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(b) that such an Appeal Court would include the

Straits, and he welcomes the proposal as "an intermediate

Court of Appeal between the different Supreme Courts and

the Privy Council", but not as a practicable or partial solution of the present question.

With regard to (a) no desire has

been expressed in any quarter for a change in the Appeal

Court at Shanghai. If and when any popular request for it

arose the matter would no doubt be considered by the

Foreign Office. Since the Puisne Judge of Shanghai is

already Judge for Weihaiwei there would appear to be no

difficulty in principle in arranging for a Judge in the

employ of the Foreign Office to devote a part of his time

to Colonial work.

In respect of (b) I submit that

the Straits Settlements are too far off to be included in

the Court of Appeal. Twelve days in passages to and fro

would be wasted from Hongkong to the nearest Straits Port,

and about half as long again from Shanghai. The number of

Puisne Judges in that Colony and the Federated Malay States

and the great distances dividing the different Settlements

would seem, at present at any rate, to indicate that the

existing system of Appellate Courts there does not call for

any alteration.

5.

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