CHANGES DESIRED

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 22, 25 July 1935, Page 22

CHANGES DESIRED

AMENDING THE LAW

REQUESTS' BY JUSTICES

A large number of matters of interest to Justices of the Peace throughout New Zealand were discussed by representatives of the New Zealand Justices' Association and the Minister of Justice (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe) yesterday, when twenty-three remits ■passed at the annual conference of the association were submitted to the Minister. The deputation comprised Messrs. A. Stratford, H. H. Seaton, H. W. 'Shortt, A. Longmore, and G. L. Arcus. The remits, which were explained by members of the deputation, covered the following points:— Abolition of the grand jury system, as in Great Britain. Amendments of the Child Welfare Act in respect of orders concerning delinquent children and anomalies. Urgent necessity for enforcing existing regulations regarding speed of motor vehicles and headlights. Compilation of an up-to-date official list of Justices of the Peace as the only available one includes 15 per cent, of those who are dead. Abolition of .the obsolete practice of placing notices regarding" objection to the jury list on the doors of churches and public buildings. No attachment of old age pensions when such attachment deprives the pensioner of food. Provision of central offices in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin for use by J-P-s and members of the public. Reinstatement of the annual supply of official postage stamps to the Justices of the Peace Associations and a grant of £20. worth of postage stamps for distribution among the thirteen associations and a federal body. Legislation to assist in bringing about appointments of J.P.s who have given service to the community rather than supposing any political party .or person. Railway travelling concessions to Justices of the Peace Associations and executive members of the federation when travelling upon important business in connection with justice. An imperative demand for public safety on the highways of the Dominion, the present death roll throwing a grave responsibility upon the authorities. , -Several other remits were more or less allied to those summarised.' THE MINISTER'S REPLY. The Minister said his Department was keeping a close watch on the experiment tried in Great Britain where the grand jury had been abolished, and that matter would be given full consideration. He agreed that the placarding of the doors of public buildings with notices calling for objections to the jury lists was an antiquated practice, and said the revision of the Child Welfare Act to remove anomalies was being considered.. The requests dealing with motor vehicles and the safety of the highway were matters for the Minister of Transport and would be submitted to him. Every care was taken in tlie selection of Justices of the Peace, the Minister said, and an effort was being made to prepare an up-to-date list of those at present acting. As regards the request for central offices his own experience as a Justice had convinced him that persons. needing the services of a Justice would go to the one nearest to hand. The requests for supplies of stamps, railway concessions, and other matters were promised consideration.