MAGISTRATE DISMISSED.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18100, 16 June 1924, Page 6

MAGISTRATE DISMISSED.

WEST AUSTRALIAN INCIDENT!

■. Mr ~W A. B. "Walter, police magistrate, -.of" Berth, Western Australia, who recently was called upon to retire as from' May 31st, sta,ted, in- an ifiterviewy that he , felt ■ convinced that .his summary dismissal was due to political reasons. He'said that on his return froni a holiday iri Burmah, the Public •- Service Commissioner, Mr 6. W. Simpson, asked him to resign, stating it was,.the. wish of the Government, although' Mr: Simpson admitted that no, fault had been : four.d regarding' his fitness , to. adjudicate. He declined t6 retire,' bnt' was later informed that: the Governor, in the Executive Council, - had. approved of his being called-upon ■to ret.re. MrWWalterr r said hci believed he.was being called upon to retire because during the conscription campaign, he fined Mr P. Collier,' the present _ Pre; 1 mier, then Leader of the Opposition, for an alleged disloyal utterance at Kalgoorlie, a conviction which was afterwards quashed by ■ the High Court. Another reason was that he assisted to put down the Kalgoorlie riots. The position at" that time be- . came so .acute that he - journeyed , to Perth for the,purpose of:having rifles • -and < ammunition , sent .to Kalgoorlie to ■ ensure the adequate, protection of the residents of the goidfields. He was consequently bitterly attacked by adherents of the Labour movement, and it was' then reported that Mr Collier had said he (Mr Walter) would go out ten minutes after Labour came into power. u. ' 'For the past 33 years; Mr Walter,. . who is now 63 years .of age, has been . a magistrate, and in the ordinary course, would have had' a year ana. a half's service to do. It was optional whether Jiis sendees were retainoc ; after - his ; COth year. Mr said that Mr A. S. Hoe, P.M., who had sentenced prominent Labour membcus of Parliament, was also retired on the advent of a previous Labour Government. - . .. The Premier, in a statement on Insubject, said that the Government simply followed tie ordinary practice in retiring Mr Walter, who was within 14 months of 6o A . age, and that they were entitled to do so at the age of 60- Mr Walte o\ni references to tlie T1 , showed that in going to Pert ordering rifles and ammunition o sent to the goidfields he had usurpe the functions of the police, Y 1 " with regard' to his Colbe. t) conviction. 1 the Federal jGovernmci refunded the ""fine, which kliowert w.ut an- absurd .prosecution it yas.