POLICE COURT DELAYS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7825, 18 June 1909, Page 3

POLICE COURT DELAYS.

I belays too frequently occur at Ashburton m connection with the business of the Police Court. This is due to the chronic difficulty which the Court officials have' m procuring the services of a Justice, or Justices, as the character of the business demands.' One of these frequent delays occurred on Thursday morning, when the business of the Court was delayed for threequarters of an hour, during which time the clerks at the Court were scouring the town and suburbs to secure the brief attendance of a Justice of the Peace. .Mr H. Davis (the Mayor), who is invariably punctual m attending the Court when his services are required, was as usual present at the appointed hour; but the nature of the case required that two Justices should; adjudicate, and it was waiting for the appearance of a second that caused the delay. There are six Jxistices of the Peace residing m and around Ashburton, but of these practically only two are available for Court business, and m consequence of this the police are frequently handicapped m carrying out their duties; while solicitors, the Court officials, and others interested are subjected to serious inconvenience m being compelled to wait about the Court for an indefinite time till a Justice 'of the Peace can be secured. Incidentally, it may be said that the Stipendiary Magistrate (Mr V. D. Day) cannot always attend Court at Ashburton m consequence of pressure of business m other parts of his district m South .Canterbury. All this shows how inconsiderately Ashburton is treated by the Department of Justice. As a matter of fair and judicious administration, a Stipendiary Magistrate should be stationed at Aslibyrton; but as things stand on the present footing, the business calls for the appointment of at least three additional Justices of the Peace. These, too, should be men who would be conveniently -accessible m case of need, and able and willing to meet the demands of their position m that respect.