FAREWELL TO MAGISTRATE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21463, 3 May 1935, Page 17

FAREWELL TO MAGISTRATE

MR LAWRY'S TRANSFER TO WELLINGTON

LARGE GATHERING AT COURT

A large number of members of the legal profession and of the police force gathered at the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, to honour Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., who has received notice of transfer to Wellington on promotion. Mr A. F. Wright, president of the Canterbury Law Society, extended congratulations to Mr Lawry on behalf of the profession. "We hope," said Mr Wright, "that your term of office- in Wellington will be as happy, as useful, and characterised by that same ability as you have shown amongst us." While the members of the profession congratulated Mr Lav/ry very heartily and expressed their wishes for his happiness during the future, they also felt regret. During the nine or 10 years he had been a stipendary magistrate here, they had learned to esteem and respect him; and he had endeared himself to members of the profession. High Tributes Paid "Mr Lawry's work in connexion with the Destitute Persons Act has been a pronounced success," said Mr Wright. "He is recognised as an authority on this act, and I would like to refer to the manner in which he has dealt with cases under the act. There are a number of people in Christchurch who have to thank him for his tactful handling of their cases. We wish Mr Lawry every success in his new sphere, and trust that the success which has so far manifested itself in his duties may continue. I would also extend to Mr E. C. Levvey a very hearty welcome." Inspector Alan Cameron apologised for the absence of Superintendent D. J. Cummings, and on behalf of the police in the Christchurch district, offered congratulations to Mr Lawry on his promotion. His loss to the district would be Wellington's gain. He wished Mr and Mrs Lawry happiness and prosperity. Mr H. A. Young, S.M., said that the occupants of the bench, as Mr Lawry's colleagues, were-fully aware of the good work which he had done. This work had been made possible to a great extent by an able and sympathetic bar, and had been responsible for his transfer to the capital city. He wished Mr Lawry a long career of usefulness, Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., thanked Mr Lawry for the whole-hearted support which he had received from him,. He had done good work in his position, and he knew that the praise of the members of the legal profession was genuine. Departure Regretted "On behalf of the criminal department. 1 would like to thank Mr Lawry for his consideration," said Mr J. A. Fyfe, of the Magistrate's Court office. "He has always done everything he could to make things easy for us. We cecply regret that his promotion and advancement take him away from Christchurch." Mr A. H. Hobbs, president of the Canterbury Justices of the -Peace Association, also spoke in praise of Mr Lawry. In reply, Mr Lawry thanked the speakers for their remarks, and referred to the pleasant relations which had existed between members of the legal profession and himself. It. had been very gratifying to him to see the way his decisions had been received. The magistrates had always pulled together, and done what they could to help each other. They were not individuals —they were more a partnership. Mr Lawry also paid tributes to the co-operation between the police and the court, and to the Justices of the Peace. In Christchurch, he said, he found that the justices took their work very seriously, and conscientiously, and were not justices merely for the sake of having the letters "J.P." after their names.