IN CONFERENCE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 80, 1 October 1924, Page 11

IN CONFERENCE

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE

ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER.

The first Dominion conference of the Justices of the Peace Associations waa commencel in the Council Chambers yesterday, Mr. R. D. Hanlon, J.P., pre-

siding.

The following delegates were present : Auckland : Messrs. J. H. Fray, C. Wheeler, A. J. Stratford; Taranaki, Messrs. W. J. Cheney, H. Trimble; Wanganui, Mr,. J. H. Keesing; Napier, Mr. W. L Prime; Hastings, Messrs. A. A. George; Canterbury, Messrs. H. Herbert Smith, J. K. Brunt, G. E. Franklin; Wellington, Messrs. F. G. Cray, D. Kerr, R. Armit; Palmerston, M. Cohen, J. H. Stevens, A. M'Lean; Fielding, Messrs. E. Goodbehere, W. J. Bramwell; Blenheim, Messrs. P. J. Galliers, W. E. Gascoigne, J. Berg, J. J. White, W. D. Pike; Masterton, Messrs. J. Ross, honorary solicitor, Mr. W. Brown; honorary regietrar, Mr. I. Salek.

The Mayor .of Wellington, Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., welcomed the delegates and expressed his gratification that such a large number of men were taking so keen an interest in this branch of the Public Service • Many justices were doing excellent work for their respective communities. It was pleasing that Wellington had been chosen as the venue of the conference, and on behalf of the residents of the Capital City, the speaker extended a. cordial welcome to the justices.

The Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Justice, also tendered a welcome to the visiting justices. The office of justice of the peace was an honourable one, and the books showed that there were no less than 5500 men holding this position. The office was a heritage of great honour, and justices should strive to maintain this standard. The -unfortunate Minister was frequently inundated with nominations from the friends of men who were desirous of being appointed. Careful inquiry was necessary before a man waß appointed, to see if he possessed the necessary qualifications. There was an exce'iant text book available for the instruction of justices, and Magistrates in several of the centres had agreed to give lectures for the benefit of justices. There was also the administrative function, the taking out of affidavits and the witnessing of documents, etc. He tendered to all justices the Department's greatest thanks for their assistance in the administrative side of the work. In one sense justices were officers of the Department, and the Minister took the opportunity of thanking justices in general for their services in the past. In the opinion of the speaker a man to be a desirable justice should have three qualities. In the first place he should be a man of good character and known integrity. The appointment of a man, who was not 6uitable in this way was' a reflection both on the Crown and on the other justices. Secondly, the candidate, if he might be termed such, should have some reasonable education, though this was not necessary in an advanced stage.Finally, the individual in question should be a man of known impartiality, a man of levelness of judgment. In conclusion, the Minister expressed the hope that the justices would have both a profitable and a pleasant conference. Mr. 0. Matthews, Under-Secretary to the Department of justice, also addressod the conference, and offered to give those present every assistance in their deliberations.

During the course of an address covering the progress of the Justices' Association movement in tho Dominion, Mr. Salek -mentioned in particular the activities of the, Wellington association. The only places which did not have associations were Dunedin and Invercargill, but the speaker wna optimistic that these places would very soon fall in lino with the other towns. The membership, he said, now totalled 930. and ho mentioned that a new list would very shortly be brought out by the Government.

Several delegates joined with Mr. Keesing in commending the splendid work dono for the movement by Mr Salek. '

Last evening delegates wore tho guesta of th ß| Orphans' Club at its "Ladies' Night, and this morning they were taken for a motor drive.