JUSTICES’ ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 19613, 20 July 1927, Page 4

JUSTICES’ ASSOCIATION

EXECUTIVE MEETS A meeting of tiio executive of the council of the Otago Justices’ Association was held in the jury room of the Law Courts yesterday. The president, Mr H. 0. Campbell, was in the chair, and there was a good attendance of members. Communications were received irtmi the following, appreciative of the kindness shown fo delegates to the Federation Conference held in Dunedin during March; —Messrs A. J. Stratford, Chas. Wheeler (Auckland), J. Russell llrunt (Christchurch), 1. Salek (Wellington)) and P. J. Galliers (Blenheim). Mr L Salek (Wellington), hon. registrar of the Federation of New Zealand Justices, wrote forwarding a report with regard to remits passed at the conference held in Dunedin in March last. He stated that Mr F. C. Cray and himself had waited on the Minister of Justice and presented the remits to him. With regard to justices being exempted from serving on common juries, the'Ministcr explained that grand jurors were drawn from the common jury list, and if the names were not included in the list then the grand jury would lose the services of justices, whoso knowledge was so valuable iti carrying out tho duties of the oltico. Therefore ho was afraid ho could not comply with the request. The Minister said he was not favorable to a decree being issued^ making it compulsory for every justice _ in tho dominion, within certain specified dates, to register at tho nearest S.M. Court or other public building to he named, and notify in writing their willingness or otherwise to net and perform the duties of a. justice of the peace. The Minister was of opinion that the jurisdiction of justices should he extended to deal with cases in which the value of property did not exceed £2O. Tho Minister did not favor summary jurisdiction being extended to cases of false declarations under the Marriage Act where tho person charged was under twenty-one years of ago, or to breaches of the Post and Telegraph Act. With regard to eases where a young person under sixteen years of age was charged under tho Child Mel taro Act, the Minister said tho recommendation to have the case heard before a. children’s court would have his sympathetic consideration. The Minister did not favor any departure from the present method "of appointing justices. _ A very close investigation was made into tho eligibility of those appointed, and every care was taken that men of wellknown character and reputation wore chosen. The Minister said lie would lie. pleased to discuss with Mr 11. Holland, M.F. (Christchurch), the question of reciprocity between Australian States aucl New Zealand for justices to act for and on behalf of Australia and New Zealand. —Tho communication was received. It eras arranged that the first annual meeting of tho Otago Association he held in the Somerset Lounge on August 30. It was also decided that a. list of members he printed in tho annual report.