CURIOUS ANOMALY

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 84, 3 January 1930, Page 7

CURIOUS ANOMALY

J.P.’S LIMITED POWERS Although most people who are acquainted but even slightly with the law know that J.P.’s are only vested with limited powers it is not generally known that Justices have no power to deal with an offender who commits a breach of his prohibition order. That such is the case, however, was demonstrated in the Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning, when a man appeared charged with drunkenness and committing a breach of his order. The J.P.’s fined the offender 10/-, In default forty-eight hours’ imprisonment, on the drunkenness charge, but were told by Senior-Sergeant Ward that accused would have to be remanded to come before a Magistrate for the other offence as only a Magistrate had the power to deal with such a case under the Licensing Act. , The J.P.’s accordingly remanded accused until January 7,' when the Magistrate will be dealing with the Court eases as usual. The offender, however, was granted his liberty in the meantime. A few minutes later it was noticed that Mr. Watson, S.M., was in the building, and his services were quickly obtained to deal with the offender, which he did by fining him £l, in default forty-eight hours’ imprisonment. Justices can deal with much more serious cases, but apparently they are not allowed to try those who commit breaches of their prohibition orders, even if the defendants plead guilty to the charge.