§ 33. Sir WALTER MENZIESasked the Attorney-General, in view of the fact that 272 undefended cases are waiting to be disposed of in the Divorce Court, about 150 of these being from last session, many of them for some months previously, and that dissatisfaction is caused hereby, he will say whether any and, if any, what arrangements are being made to enable 1071 these old undefended cases to be taken at once in order that more immediate justice may be done to the plaintiffs, who are presumably innocent of any transgression against any law?
Mr. BAKERThe Probate and Admiralty work, as well as the Divorce work, in the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division is heavy. All classes of cases are being disposed of in regular order with all possible dispatch. Moreover, the President of the Division announced about a fortnight ago that he proposes to sit for some hours after the ordinary day's work is over, on three days in the week, for the express purpose of hearing undefended divorce suits.
§ Sit W. MENZIESCan the hon. Gentleman tell me whether it is not a fact that during the first week of the sittings these undefended cases are taken, and that the judges usually pass about fifty; and, further, whether this was not done this session?