[PRESS ASSOCIATION.] COURT BUSINESS CONGESTED.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 81, 7 April 1910, Page 3

[PRESS ASSOCIATION.] COURT BUSINESS CONGESTED.

ELTHAM, 6th April. Mr. A. Greenfield, who has long since retired and is very old, is acting as relieving Magistrate pending Jhe return of Mr. Kendrick, S.M., who is absent on sick leave. I In the court to-day Mr. ft. P. Wake. ! solic'tor, addressing his Worship, said he quite- realised that the presence on the bench of a gentleman of his Worship's age must entail a good deal of sacrifice on his part. \\ ith all due respect Mr. Wake wished to say he did not think a gentleman of Mr. Greenfield's age should be asked to discharge tho important duties appertaining to the magisterial office. He felt himself in an awkward position, but was going to a»k that all contested cases be allowed to stand over until Mr. Kendrick's return. He made these remarks only from the point of view of the public interest. He asked his Worship to listen to Ins protebt, and allow such cases to stand over until Mr. Kendrictc's return. All the contested cases with the esception of one were adjourned, and the congestion in court business i? as bad as ever. One case has been hung up since December, and others partly heard by other Magistrates. No progress is being made and all the courts in this district arc in the same condition. Members of the local bar contend that there should be a permanent relieving Magistrate for the North Island, instead of a retired Magistrate being pressed into the service in an emergency. They are forwarding a requisition to the Minister of Justice to that effect, and are also asking for an alteration in the Magisterial district to enable one man to cope with the work, this district being larger than New Prymouth. [The Minister for Justice (Hon. Dr. Findlay) states that- Mr. Kendrick has been ill, and his had to go on leave for a short period. He appointed Mr. Kenny to fill the position temporarily, but, unfortunately, he too had fallen ill. To meet the emergency he had a»ked Mr. Greenfield to take up tho work in the meantime, which he had done. Tho present situation was entirely due to unforeseen and accidental circumstances. Any inconvenience which had been occasioned would pass away soon, and Mr. Kendrick would shortly be able to lesumc his duties.]