ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 265, 1 August 1908, Page 6

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.

'AN INSPECTOR'S - REMARKS ' . .. RESENTED. . INDIGNANT JUSTICES OP THE PEACE. (BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL rpBOESrONDENX). ■■/i Hastings, July 31. Before proceeding with tho business ol the Police Court this morning, his Worship the Mayor.-drew attention to; remarks credited to Inspector M'Donnell at the bearing of a certain case in Napier recently. Ho was said to havo remarked in the Court that "tho defendants were business men in Hastings, and, with all respect to the Hastings Justices, they were business men too. In the interests of justice, tho cases should be heard by a Magistrate, and ho would not have them heard by any one else." The Justices of Hastings, as business _ men, devoted a considerable portion of their time to public matters, aud the statement made by the Inspector was most unwarrantable, unless he had good grounds for saying that he could not bet a fair hearing from the Hastings Justices; If. tho Inspector thought they did not. administer justice properly,the proper course for him,to pursuo was to snbrait tho' names of the Justices he complained of t0.... tho, Justice Department,, and tako steps to have their names removed from tho Commission, of the Peace. Unless the Inspector was able to substantiate his statement he should at once make as public an apology as possible. He (the Mayor), on behalf of his follow Justices, strongly-' resented tho Inspector's charges. Mr.' J. F. Itoach, J;P>, re-echoed' the' expressions of tho previous speaker. Ho was surprised that .Inspector M'Donnell should so far forget himself as to commit himself to an unfounded chnrgc—that is, if ho were properly reported. Tho-position as assumed by the Inspector was most undignified. It was a preposterous thing to say that they 'as business men would not deal out justice to an accused individual because ho also - happened to be a business man. Major Gascoyne agreed with what had been said by, the Mayor and Mr. Roach. If tho Inspector had not good grounds for his statement tho Justices Department shouldbo communicatcd with, and ho should apologise. Mr. E. Basil Jones,, J.P., said tho Inspector's remarks cast a reflection, not only on tho Hastings Magistracy, but on * the business gentlemen holding the Commission of Peaeo in tho Dominion, beeauso it business men _ woro not capable of. sitting in impartial judgment on other business men, then they should bo deprived of their Commissions. J Mr. W. Heslop, J.P., agreed with .'whit had been said. He knew thnt the Hastiiifia Justices discharged their Magisterial'duties without fear or favour., Tho Mayor then ordered tho ordinarj . business of the Court-' to bo prcceedcc with, and Messrs. G. F. Roach, E. Daai Jones, and W. Heslop rc' 'ml. 1

Tho Committee of tho Boys' Institute (innounco an illustrated lccturo for Sunday night, when thoy hopo to seo the room full of boys. The prizes for the quarterly examination on tho Sunday night topics will be given out at .the meeting to-night.