Appeal for Fiji

Suggested Court of Appeal for Fiji

IT now seems likely that provision will be made for a Court of Appeal for Fiji.

A circular has been issued to magis trates and members of the legal profes sion in Fiji by the Registrar of the Sup reme Court, outlining suggestions which will be presented to the new Governor of the Colony when he arrives in the New Year.

It has been pointed out that if New Zealand were agreeable, a Court of Ap peal could be composed of two New Zea land Judges and which ever of the two Fiji judges who had not sat in the case in dispute.

A similar arrangement has been in operation in Southern Rhodesia for some time. Appeals there go to a Court of Appeals in South Africa.

Under the present judicial set-up, liti gants who are not satisfied with the de cision of the Fiji Supreme Court can ap peal only to the Privy Council —a long and expensive process, A trial in Fiji’s Supreme Court is con ducted by a Judge assisted by four asses sors (usually Europeans) who at the end of a trial state their opinions orally. The Judge, however, does not necessarily agree and may make whatever verdict he thinks fit.

Two legal practitioners, Mr. C. C. Chal mers and his brother, Mr. N. S. Chalmers, have spent considerable time endeavour ing to bring about the desired reform, so as to have an ordinary Court of Appeal established in the Colony. Mr. C. C Chalmers, now of Auckland, was formerly in practice in Fiji; his brother still prac tises there.