STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 194, 15 August 1904, Page 3

STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATES.

SUGGESTED ALTERATION OF TENURE. Telegraph-—r.iriiaruentary Reporter.) WELLI N'OTON. Saturday. The Stipendiary Magistrates' Bench tyUS discussed at bcrac length, in the Souse last night, when tht; estimates f the Justice Department were under eoDsideration. Air. Herdman thought some better ' jjnes should be laid down for the appointment of Magistrates. Frequently gentlemen, no doubt highly respeetabl-.-, ivere appointed to (he Bench who had r ot had large experience either as Clerk o f Court or active barrister. Magistrates in the large < .it.ics to-day were receiving smaller salaries than 25 years ago. The Minister lev Justice sympathised Tfith the hon. member,* remarks, though not altogether. T.ie .Magistrates of New Zealand would con ;:are very favourably with tho?e in the other colonies, and were receiving higher salaries than were paid previously. The Clerks of Courts who had been appointed Magistrates had been very successful in their duties, and there were fewer appeals against them than against lawyers. Mr. Duthie brought up Ihe case of ■ Mr. C. C. Kettle, who had been transferred from Wanganui to Auckland, and who only recen ed £000 a year, as against £000 paid io a similar officer in Canterbury. Mr. Baume considered it absolutely necessary that the salaries of Magistrates should be increased. The Hon. Mr. MeGowan said the transfer of Mr. Kettle meant an improved position to that officer. Transfers were not made for the benefit of the officers, but for the benefit of the public service, and they were not removed at their own expense. As to The salaries of Magistrates, lie thought there should be a minimum and a maximum salary. Perhaps the salaries were not so high as lie would Hire io see, but they were going up by degrees. Mr. Herdraan ursred the abolition of District Court Judges. Mr. Baume moved to reduce the first item in the estimates of the Justice Department. "£OOO salary to District Court Judge Kettle,"' by £1. as an indication that the Magistrates should have the same tenure of office as Supreme Court Judges. Mr. Baume pointed out the necessity of such a provision in order to prevent any suspicion of Ministerial interference, lie also advocated an increase in Magistrates' salaries. The Hon. James MeGowan hinted that personal motives were actuating Mr. Baume, who indignantly repelled the suggestion, pointing out that his being a lawyer did not prevent him being a fair-minded man, and did not keep him in ignorance of the position regarding the law courts. Mr. Massey strongly supported the amendment. Mr. Hogg opposed, saying that there had never been the merest suggestion of Ministerial interference vuth the course of justice. Mr. Massey: (t has been proved. Mr. Hogg: It may have when the present Opposition was in the office. The Premier said a similar amendment was proposed lust year by a member in ■whose district s\ e- -rutin Magistrate was stationed. That Magistrate was moved further North, and now a member from the locality in which that. Magistrate was stationed proposed the same amendment. He did not make any suggestion, tut this seemed strnnge. Mr. Baume said that the fact that a Magistrate had been removed to the North had nothing to do -with bis action. He had consistently advocated the course he now suggested ever since he first stood for the House five years ago, and had voted for the amendment last year. The Hon. Hall-Jones thought that the amendment was undemocratic. On division, the amendment was defeated by 30 votes to 23.