Statute Law Revision. 243 



that, if such an argument were to prevail, there would be 

 an end to statute law revision everywhere and at all times, 

 for there can necessarily be no assurance of finality in 

 legislation, and a measure which, at the time of its intro- 

 duction, seems wise and well-considered may in a short 

 time be found to be futile and unworkable. It may 

 further be urged, and in my opinion it is the simple 

 truth, that. the present chaotic condition of our Statute 

 Book constitutes a serious inconvenience to the com- 

 munity at large, and that its re-issue in an improved form 

 will conduce to the social and political advancement of 

 the people of the Colony. 



If a new and revised edition is prepared and published, 

 I would recommend that measures be taken for bringing 

 a knowledge of it home to the general population, by 

 free distribution in some cases and by sale at a cheap 

 price in all. In particular, I would advise that a free copy 

 be supplied to every Police Station and every Village 

 Office in the Colony, and that any person be allowed to 

 have access to it at any reasonable time. 



I have left myself no space to speak of the codifica- 

 tion of the civil law of the Colony, but, as I have already 

 observed, this is is too large a question to be adequately 

 dealt with in an article devoted to another branch of the 

 general subjeft of law revision. I will only say then 

 that it is much to the credit of the legal profession 

 and of the general public that they should have 

 shown so much anxiety to have such a work undertaken 

 and carried out. And while I entirely concur in this 

 feeling, I am yet of opinion that the reformation of our 

 ordinary statute law is at the present time a work of 

 still greater utility and importance. 



HH 



