In both the Common Law and Chancery jurisdiction, it has
been found necessary to provide a " Vacation Judge" for the adjudication of such pressing matters as may turn up in the long period occupied by the " Long Vacation." Even this modicum of judiciary is found scarcely ample enough (in point of jurisdiction, we mean) to meet the needs of so lengthy a space. Bnt there is one branch of our legal machinery which absolutely makes no pro- vision for autumnal emergencies, and that is the office of the Accountant-General of the Court of Chancery. Money is con- stantly being " paid into Court" as proceedings begin, and by and bye paid out again to people who become, or Fete themselves, entitled to it. The floating balance of these sums amounts roughly to between three and four millions sterling. Up to last year the Court of Chancery was the custodian of this, but the Chancellor of the Exchequer is now the normal guardian. The responsible officer through whose hands all the receipts and payments have to pass is still the aforesaid "Accountant-General of the Court of Chancery." The vacations of this officer, or rather of this department, for he consists of many clerks, are prescribed for him by the Lord Chancellor, and usually from about the 20th of August to the beginning of November. That is to say, on the 20th of August the Accountant-General locks his door, puts the key in his pocket, and disappears for more than two months, during which time not one penny of the three or four millions aforesaid can be got "out of Court." This is simply ridiculous, and we are, therefore, very glad to find, from Mr. Stansfeld's reply to Mr. Salt's question in the House of Commons, that the Lord Chancellor is considering how the organization of this office may be improved. Is it too late to hope that the " lock-up " may be avoided in the vacation which is now before us?
Previous page
