CO129-447 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [1-3] — Page 134

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But if the Summary Gout limit were raised

the work of the Court would be largely increased and much

money, which now goes to the rightful owners by compromise,

would be diverted into the pockets of three lawyers and their

touts, while the real benefit to the public would be infinite-

-simal. For the reasons, therefore, indicated in the Memoran-

-dum referred to above, I have decided not to entertain the

proposals for an amalgamation of the two branches of the legal

profession or for the extension of the jurisdiction of the

Summary Court; and I have asked the Chief Justice to adopt

the suggestion of making a Short Cause List, which in my view

should be very beneficial in obviating in some measure con-

-gestion of work in Original Jurisdiction in the Supreme

Court.

4.

If, however, the delay which has cha- -racterised legal proceedings in Original Jurisdiction for a

number of years is to be removed and it is essential to the

public interest that it should be a far more drastic

remedy is necessary.

-

I wish to draw your attention to para-

-graph 4 of enclosure No. 4 and to endlosure No. 9 and to the

fact that the defect must be pronounced when a body of

Solicitors make such an indictment against the Bench. To

satisfy myself on this point I consulted confidentially the leading members of the Bar and I now enclose a copy of the

note which I made of the gist of their opinion, together with copy of a private letter which Mr. E. H. Sharp, K.C., address- -ed to me in September last on this subject. Mr. Sharp's

letter deserves the most serious consideration for the reason

that he is the lender of the local Bar who has had for many years a large practice here and has also enjoyed considerable practice in London. Moreover he recognises that he himself

Onclosure 15.

166.

could