to be a Commission to inquire into the structure and
operation of the judicial system of New Zealand, comprising
the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, Magistrates' Courts, and
Children and Young Persons Courts, and to report on what
changes are necessary or desirable to secure the just, humane,
prompt, efficient, and economical disposal of the civil,
criminal, and domestic business of the Courts and to ensure
the ready access of the people of New Zealand to the Courts
for the determination of their rights and the remedying of
their grievances now and in the future; and to ensure that the
Courts are as well equipped as possible to adapt to changing
social needs:

And, in particular, to inquire into and report on:

1. The jurisdictions of the existing Courts and divisions
   thereof, whether any new all-purpose or specialist Courts or
   divisions are necessary or desirable, and what functions and
   jurisdictions the several Courts or divisions should have,
   whether exclusive or concurrent:

2. The constitution of the Court of Appeal, in each of the
   following circumstances—

(a) That the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
remains the final appellate tribunal for New
Zealand:

(b) That the Court of Appeal becomes the final appellate
tribunal for New Zealand in all cases:

3. The constitution of the Courts (including any new Courts
   or divisions recommended) with particular reference to:

(a) The qualifications for, the methods of appointment of,
and the promotion of, judicial officers:

(b) The degree of specialisation on the part of judicial
officers that is desirable and practicable in the conduct
of the business of the Courts:

(c) The manner in which the number of judicial officers
required to dispose of the business of the various
Courts and divisions is determined, the manner in
which those officers are allocated to the various
places where sittings of the Courts are held, and what
person or body should perform this function:

(d) Whether, in respect of Courts other than the Supreme
Court or Court of Appeal, it is necessary or desirable
to appoint chief judicial officers of the various Courts
or divisions or senior judicial officers at any place
where there is more than one judicial officer and, if
so, what duties or powers such a chief or senior
judicial officer should perform or exercise:

(e) Whether, and if so in what circumstances, there should
be a power to investigate the conduct of judicial
officers and, if so, what person or body should exercise
that power and in what manner:

(f) Whether it is desirable to hold conferences and refresher
courses for judicial officers of the various Courts and
divisions and, if so, the nature and extent of such
courses:

(g) The extent to which it is proper and expedient to make
use of the services of Justices of the Peace as judicial
officers in the lower Courts, and what special provision
should be made for the selection and training
of Justices of the Peace to exercise the jurisdiction of
such Courts:

4. The obligations and responsibilities of barristers and
   solicitors to the Courts and to their clients to aid in securing
   the just, prompt, efficient, and economical disposal of the
   business of the Courts:

5. Whether, and if so, to what extent, the Courts or any of
   them should exercise greater supervision over the progress of
   proceedings and the making of appropriate interlocutory
   orders, and what judicial officer should exercise such supervision:

6. The role of Registrars of the several Courts, whether and
   to what extent it is proper or desirable and practicable that
   Registrars perform judicial functions and whether the appointment
   of legally qualified officers of any Court to exercise
   subordinate judicial functions would be desirable, practicable,
   or convenient:

7. The administrative procedures and the organisation and
   the management of the several Courts and divisions, including
   the places appointed and the frequency and times of sittings
   for the dispatch of business and the arrangement of the business thereof:

8. The relation between the Courts and officers thereof and
   persons who attend the Courts as applicants, or as parties to
   any proceedings, or as witnesses, or jurors, or otherwise and
   the extent to which changes in the facilities and administrative

procedures of the Courts are necessary or desirable to meet
the convenience of such persons:

9. Any associated matters that may be thought by you to be
   relevant to the general objects of the inquiry:

And We hereby appoint you the said

The Honourable DAVID STUART BEATTIE
to be the Chairman of the said Commission:

And for the better enabling you to carry these presents into
effect you are hereby authorised and empowered to make
and conduct any inquiry or investigation under these presents
in such manner and at such time and place as you think
expedient, with power to adjourn from time to time and
place to place as you think fit, and so that these presents
shall continue in force and any such inquiry may at any
time and place be resumed although not regularly adjourned
from time to time or from place to place:

And you are hereby strictly charged and directed that you
shall not at any time publish or otherwise disclose, save to
His Excellency the Governor-General, in pursuance of these
presents or by His Excellency's direction, the contents of
any report so made or to be made by you, or any evidence
or information obtained by you in the exercise of the powers
hereby conferred on you, except such evidence or information
as is received in the course of a sitting open to the
public:

And it is hereby declared that the powers hereby conferred
shall be exercisable notwithstanding the absence at any time
of any one or any two of the members hereby appointed
so long as the Chairman or a member deputed by the Chairman
to act in his stead, and two other members, are present
and concur in the exercise of the powers:

And We do further ordain that you have liberty to report
your proceedings and findings under this Our Commission
from time to time if you shall judge it expedient to do so:

And, using all due diligence, you are required to report
to His Excellency the Governor-General in writing under
your hands, not later than the 31st day of December 1977,
your findings and opinions on the matters aforesaid, together
with such recommendations as you think fit to make in respect
thereof:

And, lastly, it is hereby declared that these presents are
issued under the authority of the Letters Patent of His Late
Majesty King George the Fifth, dated the 11th day of May
1917, and under the authority of and subject to the provisions
of the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1908, and with
the advice and consent of the Executive Council of New
Zealand.

In witness whereof We have caused this Our Commission
to be issued and the Seal of New Zealand to be hereunto
affixed at Wellington this 4th day of October 1976.

Witness Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Sir Edward
Denis Blundell, Knight Grand Cross of Our Most
Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George,
Knight Grand Cross of Our Royal Victorian Order, Knight
Commander of Our Most Excellent Order of the British
Empire, Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in
and over New Zealand.

DENIS BLUNDELL, Governor-General.

By His Excellency's Command—

BRIAN TALBOYS, for Prime Minister.

Approved in Council—

P. G. MILLEN, Clerk of the Executive Council.

Honorary Staff of His Excellency the Governor-General

His Excellency the Governor-General has been pleased to
approve the following appointments to His Excellency's Honorary
Staff for a period of 1 year from 1 October 1976:

1. HONORARY AIDES

(a) Auckland

Commander John Joseph Maire, M.B.E., RNZN,
Lieutenant Colonel Alan Guy Armstrong, RNZIR,
Wing Commander William Joseph Cranfield, A.F.C.,
RNZAF.

(b) Wellington

Commander Graham James Bosson, RNZN,
Lieutenant Colonel John Milbanke Masters, M.C., RNZA,
Wing Commander John Alan Scrimshaw, M.B.E., A.F.C.,
RNZAF.