THE BENCH AND THE PUBLIC.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2731, 28 March 1916, Page 7

THE BENCH AND THE PUBLIC.

Sir,—ln your issue of fcho 23rd, j Page 4, a Stipendiary _ Magistrate, Mr. Widdowson by name, is reported to have, "made some severe remarks" from the Bench in Duncdin on the impropriety of persons addressing letters to a Magistrate concerning any case coming before him and, says His Worship: "He is a very stupid and impertinent person who does such a thing to interfere with the course of justice." That is to say, if it were known or believed that a Magistrate was going to give a wrong decision—whether by mistake or otherwise—he must not be advised of hia error. We all know the impro* priety of interfering in any way with a Magistrate, but to hold that he can do a wrong in defiance of information to the contrary, is surely going a step too far;, moreover, such & case- would

be particularly liard on a litigant who had not the means to appeal or eniploy a solicitor. Ono would think that n. Magistrate inclined to do what was right would be glad of such information being placed within his reach. A case somewhat similar occurred in Taranaki recent] v. Two commission agents sued a local resident for commission on tho sale of a house, and tho decision was adjourned.. During the adjournment another person,.who had intimate knowledge of the facts, wired the Magistrate that the deal was not effected by, or through the medium of, these agents, hut by the parties, vendor and vendee, personally, in a solicitor's office. Tno Magistrate, instead of. calling upon the sender of the telegram to produce his evidence, gave judgment in favour of the commission agents, and soundly slandered the sender of the telegram from tho Bench, where he (tho sender) could not reply.—l am, ",'tc, , VERITAS. March 27, 1916. '