CO129-381 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [11-12] — Page 501

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a Magistrates' Court for cases under $200 in value were adopted. This suggestion involving the creation of a Third Magistrate had already for some time past been engaging my attention.

4.

Mr. Pollock, however, instead of replying to the points raised opens his letter by stating that "the only question for consideration now is whether a Judge should come down from Shanghai to sit in the Appellate Court or whether a Third Judge should be appointed here". That issue which has already been finally decided by yourself was not in any way referred to him. He proceeds to argue strongly in favour of a Third Judge and against the Shanghai Judge scheme. I attach a

copy of his letter.

5.

Meanwhile as I have informed you at some

length in a separate despatch, events in connection with the

retirement of the Chief Justice had led Sir F. Piggott to write

two long lettera and a Memorandum condemning the scheme. I

enclose copies of these letters.

6.

Finally I enquired from Sir H. de Sausmarez

whether he was prepared to accept the remuneration suggested in

your Despatch. He replied that "as it is not likely that the Appeal Court's work will be disposed of in less than 5 weeks during the year and that that time may on occasions be exceeded"

he considered that £300 per annum with the allowances indicated

would be a bare minimum.

7.

The late Mr. Barnes took a great interest in

this matter and discussed it at length with Mr. Gompertz as well

as myself. He did not unfortunately minute the file, but I under- -stood him to be in favour of the scheme, subject to the creation of a Third Magistrate's Court for small debts. On this latter subject he minuted as follows:-

"I spoke with Your Excellency this morning. My proposals

would be:-

(i). Appoint First and Second Magistrates as

Magistrates