THE POSITION OF MAGISTRATES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 242, 13 October 1933, Page 6

THE POSITION OF MAGISTRATES.

The petition.that a number of New Zealand magistrates, including those in the four chief centres, have sent to Parliament asking for reconsideration of the financial position of the magistracy, sets forth a strong case. Magistrates' salaries have been considerably reduced by the operation of State economies, and when taxation and pension deductions are made, the net amount received is small for the work the Bench is called upon to do. Like a judge, a magistrate should be free from financial worry, and it is highly undesirable that he should get into debt. Yet, like the judge, he is called upon to keep up a position of dignity. The necessity for keeping the Supreme Court Bench clear above such anxieties is well recognised. Judges are paid well, their salaries have not been touched by current economies, and they do not contribute to the cost of their liberal pensions. When the question of reducing judges' salaries was raised some time ago, tl:e Prime Minister stated the case for the absolute independence of the Bench, and in doing so said that judges had sometimes to stand between the Government and the people. But magistrates also have to give the people this protection, and to an increasing extent in these days of growing Government intervention in private ali'airs. Moreover, as the magistrates' petition states, the jurisdiction of magistrates here is wider than that of magistrates and County Court judges in England, who are better paid. The gap in salaries between magistrates and judges is too wide, and magistrates should enjoy a financial security similar to that provided for the Supreme Court Bench. There is also, of course, the consideration that the type of lawyer required for the magisterial Bench may not be attracted by the low salaries now prevailing. The interests of justice demand that this request shall be favourably considered by Parliament and by the Government.