The assistance from a second magistrate in March, May and July was yesterday announced by the member for Albury, Greg Aplin.

Mr Aplin said the state’s chief magistrate, Judge Graeme Henson, wrote to Mr Murray offering help that was accepted and the dates confirmed.

A second magistrate will sit in Albury for four days from March 30, five days from May 11 and five days from July 6.

“I am pleased that the Attorney-General’s office and the chief magistrate have responded so positively and effectively once the matter was raised,” Mr Aplin said.

The backlog in hearing matters was first raised by Labor’s candidate in the Albury electorate, Ross Jackson.

“I am happy to see the issue addressed, but it is only a temporary solution,” Mr Jackson said yesterday.

“Albury needs a second magistrate for at least 20 weeks each year to ensure the prompt and efficient handling of defended hearings.”

Three long-time Albury solicitors who handle criminal matters — Paul Robb, Mark Cronin and Tim Hemsley — all welcomed the news yesterday.

“That’s good news. It will certainly make a difference with delays which were starting to be a difficulty,” Mr Robb said.

He said when hearing dates were now being allocated in June, the evidence of a blowout was obvious.

Mr Robb had an assault case listed for hearing last week, but it was not reached and a new date was set.

He said the matter, which will take two or three hours, had been listed for June 5.

Mr Hemsley said the additional dates provided almost three weeks of court time and would certainly assist.

“Justice will be done more efficiently. It will also relieve some of the pressure on our existing magistrate,” he said.

Mr Hemsley said it was pleasing the chief magistrate had responded to the delays and what was happening with the Albury list.

Mr Cronin’s response was: “That’s great. It is good news.”

He said the hearing delays were compounding and had started to “blow right out”.

Mr Cronin last week told visiting magistrate Margaret Quinn that previously a second magistrate had provided assistance at Albury for something like 20 weeks each year.