and the Chief Inspector of Air Accidents in his report came to different
conclusions on it. But it is not this Court's concern now. This is not
an appeal. Parties to hearings by Commissions of Inquiry have no rights
of appeal against the reports. The reason is partly that the reports
are, in a sense, inevitably inconclusive. Findings made by Commissioners
are in the end only expressions of opinion. They would not even be
admissible in evidence in legal proceedings as to the cause of a
disaster. In themselves they do not alter the legal rights of the
persons to whom they refer. Nevertheless they may greatly influence
public and Government opinion and have a devastating effect on personal
reputations; and in our judgment these are the major reasons why in
appropriate proceedings the Courts must be ready if necessary, in
relation to Commissions of Inquiry just as to other public bodies and
officials, to ensure that they keep within the limits of their lawful
powers and comply with any applicable rules of natural justice.

Although this is not an appeal on causation or on any other aspect of
the Commission's report, the issues with which this Court is properly
concerned--the extent of the Commissioner's powers in this inquiry, and
natural justice--cannot be considered without reference to the issues
and evidence at the inquiry. We are very conscious that we have not had
the advantage of seeing and hearing the witnesses. It can be very real,
as all lawyers know. It is true that the kind of analytical argument we
heard from counsel, with concentration focused on the passages of major
importance in the report and the transcript of evidence, can bring
matters into better perspective than long immersion in the details of a
case. Necessarily this Court is more detached from the whole matter than
was the Commissioner. And several different judicial minds may combine
to produce a more balanced view than one can. But as against those
advantages, which we have had, there is the advantage of months of