CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2] — Page 284

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Hon. Colonial Secretary,

[Rent 17 FEB (3)

Many thanks for this file. Now that the Crown

Solicitor is a qualified barrister the difficulty in finding in the service a substitute for the Attorney-General when the Attorney-General was on leave or acting as Chief Justice would not

arise.

I cannot say that I came out, as the last Attorney-

-General did, under any assurance that I should act as Chief Justice, though Ifnew, of course, that it was the practice here

for the Attorney-General to do so. For personal reasons I should

like to act as Chief Justice: firstly because it gives one valu-

-able judicial experience which will be useful to one when one, in due course I suppose, coes on the bench somewhere; secondly be- -cause of the pecuniary advantage and of the position; and thirdly,

here, because I am senior to the Puisne Judge in my profession and precedence in that is of some importance amongst ourselves.

(Sd.) John A. Bucknill,

Attorney-General.

22nd. January, 1913.