MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 134, 9 June 1933, Page 6

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

The Minister of Justice contemplates making more use of Justices of the Peace in Magistrates' Courts. He is impressed by the practice in England, where the Justice of the Peace js called upon to do more than in this country. In England, however, the position is ancient as well as honourable, rooted in custom and tradition centuries old. Our conditions are not the same. Even in England the duties of Justices have been curtailed; as civilisation advances, the tendency is to put more of the dispensing of justice into the hands of persons trained in the law. This has been the course in New Zealand. In earlier days more Court work was' required of Justices. The Commission of the Peace will always be a necessary part of the system of law and order. The Justice, besides being useful as a witness of documents, is an emergency magistrate. It does not follow, however, that he should be asked to act more frequently where a stipendiary can be employed. Public opinion will strongly prefer that justice should be served by trained magistrates than by laymen. The Minister says- he is consulting the Under-Secretary of Justice. He should also ask the opinion of the Law Societies and the Supreme Court Bench.