POPULAR MAGISTRATE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 152, 24 December 1926, Page 10

POPULAR MAGISTRATE

MR. J. W. SALMON FAREWELLED

AT THAMES,

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

THAMES, 23rd December

Members' oi! Bar, the Police, and tho Court staff gathered yesterday to say farewoll to the Magistrate, Mr, J. W. Salmon, who has been transferred to Wellington.

The senior counsel, Mr. E. J. Clendon, apologised for tho absence of members from other towns, who were unavoidably absent owing to the nearness of tho vacation. They gathered to say goodbye to Mr. Salmon and congratulate him on his promotion. When he had been temporarily transferred to Thames it was hoped that he would bo restored, but tho Government thought otherwise. This was a blow to tho members of the profession of tho whole of the Thames district, who sincerely regretted his departure. No one more deserved promotion. The speaker recalled that six years ago, when welcoming Mr. Salmon to the district ho said that the appointment was one of the best tho Government had made in years. This was borne out by the subsequent events. All he had said had boen justified. Mr. Salmon had faced all sorts of procedure and as magistrate, warden and chairman of the Licensing Committee had handled his duties well. When restoration was carried at Ohinemuri, questions of a complex and serious nature beat the best brains in New Zealand, but they had been settled by Mr. Salmon, who came through the ordeal triumphant, and his decisions and readings of the law had been approved by both the public and the Bar, and had given extreme satisfaction to the Licensing Committee. All the members of the Bar realised his courtesy, kindness, consideration, and leniency at all times, while the public liked his affability and demeanour on tho Bench. His dignity had won golden opinions in a large district. The speaker hoped that Mr. Salmon would have rapid promotion and much prosperity, and asked him to accept a presentation from the Bar, the staff, and tho Police, with their good wishes

On behalf of the Justices of the Peace, Mr. T. W. Ehodes, M.P., said that ho had many opportunities of judging Mr. Salmon as a Warden and a Magistrate. He congratulated him on his promotion. He had wielded his great powers as a Warden in a fair and impartial way. It seemed a pity, now that there was a revival in mining, that they could not have the benefit of Mr. Salmon's experience. He had been particularly fair in his judgments, and oven the disappointed litigants acknowledged that they had received jus-

(luc. No licensing committee could have had a ,better advisor.

Sorgcant M'Donnell said that the police recognised Mr. Salmon's help to them in adjudicating.

Replying, Mr, Salmon said that kindly relations between the Bench and liar had always existed, and lie had been conscious that these had helped him in his duties. If he failed, they should realise that he had wished for the right as he had seen it. New Zealand had a right to bo proud of its Police Force. He had often remarked on tho fair way in which they presented their cases. He thanked tho staff for its loyal ty ; which could not be surpassed in the Civil Service. He left Thames with many regrets.