MAYOR AND MAGISTRATE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 89, 14 April 1923, Page 11

MAYOR AND MAGISTRATE

"YOU MAY GO," THUNDERED THE BENCH. ;•

(VX TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) _ CHRISTCHURCH, 13th April. During a heated argument in the Magistrate's Court this morning between the Mayor (Dr. H. T. J. Thacker, M.P.) and Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., the Mayor was warned by the' Magistrate that if he persisted in making certain observations he would find himself charged with contempt of Court. , The case had originally been set down for hearing last Friday, but on account of the absence of the Mayor, who had laid the information, it was dismissed without prejudice, the defendant being allowed costs. This morning the case was brought on again, and as it was being defended the Mayor had to sit patiently in the Court from about 10 o'clock until ten minutes past 12 o'clock before being called to give evidence. Dr. Thacker, at the conclusion of his evidence, said he wished to protest against having to come to Court at 10 o'clock and then be kept waiting two hours . befdre giving his evidence. He said the same thing had happened to him on practically every occasion he had come to the Court. ' The Magistrate explained the procedure of the Court, and said that until there were more Magistrates there would be much more waiting. , "The whole justice of the Courts seems to defend the people who break the laws," remarked the Mayor, who again stated that he did not think it right for a busy man to be kept waiting so long in Court. ' " I can't allow you to say that," interjected the Magistrate, sharply. "Well that, is my opinion," replied the Mayor. ' . " Well, you must keep it to "yourself and not express it here," Heatedly remonstrated the Magistrate. "If you are not careful, you will find yourself called upon to show cause why you should not be committed for contempt of Court." . . ; "1 did not mention the Court," explained the Mayor with vigour. The Magistrate: "You did." The Mayor: " I am sure I did'not." The Magistrate: " I am afraid, doctor, you have been letting your tongue run away with you." The Mayor: " I said the proceedings; I did not mention tho Court." The Magistrate:. " Oh, no! You did not. You said the Court, and it shows the danger you are likely to get into in not knowing what you are saying. You should be more careful in the choice of your words than you are." " I wish," the Mayor began, when the Magistrate cut. him short. " You may go," thundered the Magistrate. Dr.. Thacker made a further attempt to make an explanation, but the Magistrate repeated his ultimatum, and Dr. Thacker subsided for a few minutes. He remained watching the rest of the proceedings in the case, and then made his exit quietly. '