DR. M'ARTHUR WELCOMED.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 112, 8 November 1910, Page 2

DR. M'ARTHUR WELCOMED.

TRIBUTE FROM THE BAR, Dr. A. M' Arthur, S.M.. who recent! returned from an extended tour to tin. Old Country, resumed his seat at. lh< Magistrate's Court this morning. Befor* tho business of the Civil Court comment ed, a large and repiescntative assembly of members of tho legal profession px< tended him a welcome. Mr. W. G. Rid' dell, S.M., accompanied Dr. M'Arthui into court a3 representing the Benchand among those present were Mr. E*. Stafford (president of the Wellington District Law Society), Sir Kennetb Douglas, Messrs. T. F. Martin, A. S. Menteath, J. L. Stout, S. A. Atkinson, A. Blair, P. J. O'Regan, C. R. Dix, E. T. Redwood, and T. Neave (Crown Law Department), Chief Detective Bret; berg, Sub-Inspector Norwood, and a number of others. On behalf of the Wellington Dist:rfi Law Society, air. E. Stafford then >-ea4 the following address to Dr. M 'Arthur— '• "To Dr. A. M'Arthur, LL.D., Stipendiary Magistrate, Wellington.— Sir,— . I have been requested by the Wellington District Law Society, on behalf of the legal profession, to welcome you back to the resumption of your functions as Stipendiary Magistrate of this' city. Tlu profession recognises that you have, while occupying that office, done so ill, an able, just, and courteous manner, with due consideration to those invoking the jurisdiction of the court, and to the members of the profession practising in that court. It can be safely said that your mode of conducting the business o£ the court has met with general approval, and that no magistrate who has pre-> sided over the court has more satisfactorily .performed his duties than you have. The profession is gratified to find that your health has been restored by your visit to England, and it trusts that you may long continue to perform your judicial duties. The members desire also to convey to your wife their good wishes for her welfare. Dated ab Wellington this Bth day of November, 1910.— E. Stafford, President Welling-, ton District Law Society." In reply, Dr. M'Arthur said it was hardly an occasion on which one could adequately express one's feelings. They had been good enough to assemble together on the occasion of his departure England, and now it was impossible for him to express his feelings as fully as he ought to do. He had made it part of his business to see how the courts were conducted in the old countries, and to see what manner of men were there sitting on the Bench. Dr. M'Arthur could say without the est hesitation, that we ourselves compared very favourably with the old lands in the matter of judicial procedure. There were very able men in the higher courts of justice in Great Britain — there were also able men in the lower court, too, but the Magistrate 'thought that given the same opportuuities, our own men here \voul3 do just as well as the Judges and Magistrates of the Old Land. One could not but be, struck with the great ability of the police exercised in England, especially in their control of the City of London, and the absolute fairness with which they gave their evidence. "Anything I have learnt there," said Dr. M'Arthur^ "will be at your disposal here, and if I can improve my methods, you may rest assured that I will do so." Dr. M'Arthur thanked those present Trom the bottom of his heart, both for himself and on behalf of his wife, to whom they had been kind enough 10 make reference., H,e- ( assured his hearers that if he had given them satisfaction in the past, it would be his earnest endeavour to' give them more satisfaction in the future. Before the business of the court com'meneed at the Hutt yesterday, Dr. M'Arthur was heartily welcomed "back by Mr. T. Peterkin, J.P., and Mr. Cracroffc Wilson.