NOTED MAGISTRATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 230, 28 September 1929, Page 9

NOTED MAGISTRATE.

Oldest Occupant Of Chair Of Justice In Britain. MR. F. MEAD TO RETIRE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 27. A notable figure of London life if about to pass into retirement in the person of Mr. Frederick Mead, magistrate at Marlborough Street Police Court. He has intimated to the Home Office his intention of vacating his magistracy this week, and to-day will sit at the' Court for the last time. Mr. Mead is 82 years of age and the oldest occupant of any chair of justice in this country. He was called to the Bar 60 years ago, and 40 years have passed since he became magistrate at the Marlborough Street Court. In that long period thousands of offenders of every type and every nationality have come before him for judgment. The Marlborough Street magistrate has to deal with crime in a part of the West End of London which has a notably cosmopolitan population. Mr. Mead always has been distinguished for his remarkable physical and mental alertness in dealing with the difficult cases which have, arisen among this kind of population. Although in the course of his long tenure of office many of his judgments have been criticised on the ground of their severity he will always bo remembered as one of London's most able magistrates.