JUSTICES CONFER

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22661, 16 March 1939, Page 18

JUSTICES CONFER

o FEDERATION MEETS AT TIMARU MR j. M. JENKINS NEW PRESIDENT [ IFrom Our Own Reporter.! TIMARU, March 15. Mr J. M. Jenkins, of Timaru, was elected president of the New Zealand Federation of Justices of the Peace at the annual conference, which is being held at Timaru. Other officers were elected as follows: Vice-president, Mr H. W. Shortt (Wellington); honorary registrar and treasurer, Mr A. J. Stratford; executive. Messrs Jenkins, Shortt, Stratford, and W. C. Weston, assisted by the Wellington reference officer; honorary solicitor, Mr L. P. Leary; honorary auditor. Mr E. C. Phillips. It was decided that the 1940 conference at Wellington should comprise delegates from New Zealand and Australian associations. Reviewing the work of the last year, after referring to the loss sustained by the association through the death of its past president. Mr A. H. Hobbs, Mr Weston said that a sturdy young association had been formed in Hawke’s Bay. Attempts to form associations in Nelson and North Auckland had so far not met with success. These districts were the only ones in the Dominion where there were no associations. During the year, continued Mr Weston, there had been some criticism of justices hearing cases where intoxicated motorists wex - e involved. In some cases justices had adjourned cases, and in others had dealt with them in spite of protests by the police. His sympathies were with the justices who had. where it had been possible, adjourned the charges to be dealt with by a Magistrate. The Hamilton District Law Society recently affirmed the principle that it was advisable for justices to refer cases of this nature to a Magistrate wherever possible, provided that the Magistrate was in a position to hear the case within a reasonable period. It should not be thought that justices had any sympathy with the intoxicated motorist. In 1933. at Invercargill, the retiring president (Mr David McFarlane), referred particularly to the motor regulations and the preservation of human life, and the drunken motorist. To-day the Minister for Transport (the Hon. R. Semple) was doing his best to save life on the road, and the speaker was sure that every justice in New Zealand was whole-heartedly with him in this campaign. Mr Weston said that the federation heartily welcomed the appointment of women justices, who were a source of strength to the organisation. After paying a tribute to the assistance given him by the executive and registrar, Mr Weston gave a resume of last year’s activities. Adoption of Remits The following remits were carried:— “That this conference draws attention to the social and economic problems facing the country in view of the declining birth-rate, and urges the Government to give consideration to these problems, particularly along the lines of a sound immigration policy.” —(South Canterbury Association.) "That it be again recommended to the Minister for Justice that the Juries Act be amended to make it possible for the obsolete practice of affixing jury notices to the doors of halls and churches be abolished. It is suggested that the advertisement calling Justices of the Peace to attend to consider objections to the jury list could be altered to give notice to the general public that objections would be considered on a stated ground.”—(South Canterbury Association.) "That in the case of offenders who have been found guilty of being intoxicated while in charge of a motorcar, final _ forfeiture of the licence to drive should take place in all cases where the offended has been found guilty for the third time.”—(South Canterbury Association.) "That nurse inspectors be attached to the Pensions Department for the purpose of visiting and securing necessary reports for and from the department.”—(Auckland Association.) "That this conference of Justices of ■ the Peace, representing the whole of justices’ associations throughout the Dominion, views with grave concern ■ the ever-increasing cases of motor-car ■ conversions, which we consider theft. i and the loss and inconvenience suf- ! fered by the owners of such converted cars; it requests the Minister for Justice to bring this matter to the attention of all Magistrates with a view to more adequate punishment.”—(Auckland Association.) "That the Government be asked to consider the advisability of introducing , legislation whereby any person who ’ supplies by way of gift or otherwise any intoxicating liquor to any person appearing to be under the age of 21 : years is guilty of an offence, and is liable to a fine of £SO or to imprisonment for three months, unless (a) such person is the parent or guardian, or one of the parents or guardians or the husband of such person, or (b) such person is a bone-flde guest or lodger in licensed premises, and such liquor is supplied on such premises, or (c) such liquor is supplied for medicinal purposes only.”—(Taranaki Association.)