STATUS OF MAGISTRATES

Evening Star, Issue 15240, 19 July 1913, Page 11

STATUS OF MAGISTRATES

< » IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS. [FIIOM QIR pATIIIAMEXIAItv RtPOHTEU.] Vy ELLINGTON, July 18. The- Reform Government last year promised to_ take steps toward improving the status c! Stipendiary Magistrates, and in fulfilment- of that promise the Attorno.yGeneral (Hon. A. L. Herdma.n) has devised a Bill on the principles of tho County Court Act. England, with the- object- of placing the Stipandiary Magistrates on a level wi:h English County Court Judges, with a fixed salary paid out eft he Consolidated' Fund. The Bi]l,xwh!:h i* intituled the Magistrates' Courts Amendment Bill, provides for the appointment and payment of salaries, the civil jurisdiction of the Court, repeals of sections "of the principal Act', also special provision for the appointment of a- Magistrate for tho Chatham Islands. Two clauses are of especial interest to the lay mind. These are. in effect, that no person shall be appointed a Magistrate who is not- a. barrister or solicitor of the Supreme Court of not less than five, years' standing, and that every Magistrate" shall receive a yearly .-alary/of £7CO, an exception being made in respect of the principal Magistrate in Auckland, Wellington, Christchnrch. and Dunedin, who shaft receive £BOO a year. The Attorney-General, in moving the second reading of the Bill, explained its provisions. He said that the .Magistrate's Court was known as the "people's Couit." and that Magistrates had to do lcfponsihje work of an exceedingly important character. In the paet Stipendiary Magistrates had depended on a vote on the Estimates for an increase of salary. This placed Magistrates in an invidious, position if they desired an increase. He explained, further, that tho Bill was an exact cony of the County Court Judges Act in England. The proposed increases in salaries would, if adopted, mean an additional expenditure this financial year of £1,600, and £3,200 next year. An Opposition' Member: Moner well spent. The Hon. Mr Herdman referred fo various clauses, and expressed the belief that the proposals to improve the status would attract some of the leading minds of the legal profession. Ho mentioned =that the increase in salaries would take effect from the date of the passing of the Bill. Mr Hanan (Invercargill) approved of the genera! principles of the Bill, expressed his hope of seeing some alterations made during the committee stage, and said he would support t.Me measure. The Bill was read a second time on the voices. !