Justices Barton and O'Connor lived in Sydney, but Chief Justice of Australia Sir Samuel Griffith lived in Brisbane, and took a two-day train ride to attend each sitting in Melbourne. When Griffith asked for some bookshelves to be installed in the Darlinghurst courthouse, so that his law library might be moved from his offices in Brisbane, Symon criticised Griffith for holding any sittings outside Melbourne, and began intrusive inspections of the judges' travel expenses. Prime Minister George Reid tried to intervene, and Griffith even took the extraordinary step of delaying scheduled sittings early in 1905.
The Justices Barton and O'Connor resided in Sydney, while Chief Justice Sir Samuel Griffith lived in Brisbane and traveled by train for two days to attend court sessions in Melbourne.  When Griffith requested bookshelves for his law library at the Darlinghurst courthouse to move it from his offices in Brisbane, Symon criticized Griffith for holding sittings outside of Melbourne and began scrutinizing judges' travel expenses. Prime Minister George Reid attempted to intervene, and Griffith even postponed scheduled court sessions early in 1905.