THE J.P.

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 256, 26 July 1935, Page 10

THE J.P.

Since the justices of the peace in this country have become an organised body they have become also more vocal in regard to various matters touching their own duties and the general administration ot the law. The deputation which represented the Federation of the New Zealand Justices’ Associations in submitting to the Minister of Justice on Wednesday the resolutions of its conference presented a fair range of topics for Mr. Cobbe’s attention, from the abolition of the grand jury system to the supply of official postage stamps. As justices of the peace perform, without any other reward than perhaps the consequence they acquire from their office, a large amount of work- indispensable to the administration of the law, they are entitled to claim consideration for their wants. Nevertheless the office, although honorary, is keenly coveted, a point which the Minister, no doubt will remember when looking over some of the more intimate and personal of the deputation’s requests.. As to appointments to the Commission of the Peace the federation insists that the qualification should be service to the community, not service to a political party. This question has long been a subject of discussion. In 1909 a British Royal Commission was set up to consider and report "whether any and what steps should be taken to facilitate the selection of the most suitable persons to be justices of the peace irrespective of creed and political opinion.” Mr. Cobbe s reply to the deputation on this point was that every was taken to investigate the nominations, and in each case a report, was submitted to the stipendiary magistrate of the particular, district for consideration. Even so, there is no guarantee that political influence is thereby eradicated. The aim of the federation, and a praiseworthy one, is to increase the efficiency of its members and enhance their status, and a prerequisite is a discriminating investigation of the qualifications of aspirants for service on the Commission of the Peace.

Two famous English judges have recorded their opinions on justices of the peace. “The whole Christian world,” said Coke, “hath not the like office as justice'of the peace if duly executed.” Lord Cowper, on the other hand, described them as “men sometimes illiterate and frequently bigoted and prejudiced.” The former category is the aim of the federation, and it should be encouraged in every way to achieve its aspirations.