JUSTICES OF THE PEACE

Grey River Argus, 29 August 1939, Page 9

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE

| West Coast Association ' ANNUAL MEETING HELD. I The annual meeting of Ihe West ' Coast (5.1.) .Justices of lhe Peace Association (inc.) was held at Harkers Reception Rooms yesterday, Mr Ray- ■ mond Ferner, S.M., presiding over an ' attendance of thirty members from ■ various parts of the district. ■ The Chairman extended a welcome 1 to the Mayor (Mr F. A. Kitchingham), ! Mr Joseph Taylor (Cobden), who was their oldest member, and Mr T. H. J i Hopkins (Otira), their youngest Jus- ; tice by appointment, who was attendI ing for the first time. He felt sure , Mr Hopkins would enjoy his office as ’ a commissioner of the peace. | The Registrar, Mr M. J. Fogarty, I read apologies from Messrs James i Sneddon (Blackball), G. B. Mclnroe ' (ikamatua) A. E. Lines (Inangahua I Junction), G. E. J. Taylor (Westport), ' D. J. Evans (Hokitika), J. E. Fit.zgeri aid (Waihihinihi >, W. C. Mirfin (Ika-

matua), F. W. Shallcrass, N. Peat i ilVloana) and T. H. Lee (Reefton), ‘ who- expressed regret at the impend- ■ ing departure of lhe President, and : thanked him for his interest in the af- ' lairs of the Association. i The annual report stated:--It is • with pleasure your Executive submits . a report for the period May' 31, 1938, to August 22, 1939. It should be explained that (he financial year of the Association ends on September 30, but owing to various reasons the annual meet.ngs have not been held at the appropriate dates. It is the desire of i your Executive to bring the annual I meefngs in lino with the closing of I the financial year, viz., September 30. j J.cavever, il was found owing to the i early departure from lhe district of Mr Raymond Ferner, our worthy PreI s deni, I hat we were forced to hold ■ the meeting this year a little earlier i (han intended. The statement of aci counts presented by’ the hon. Regis- | I rar, show that the Association is in a good financial position with a credit I l.alan e of I'sl iris lOd. It was with 1 feel.tigs of gi mu al regret that your Executive learnt of the removal of our 1 Tesid. nt from the district. Mr 1 b'ei Her ha-: lak.-ii a most active interest‘in the Association, in fact he ’ was responsible lor lifting it from a ; somewhat moribund state. We take ; ills opport tin ty of wishing him and , family happy time in their new loj cation. Wo record with regret the I r eam of our Vice-Patron, Mr H. J. i B gnoil also one of our Vice-Presid-i cnts, Mr E. R. Fox of Westport. The i annual conference of the New Zealand Justices’ Federation was held at Tin.aru in March last, when your Association was represented by the hon. Registrar, Mr M, J, Fogarty. Delegates were present from all parts of the Dominion. The next annual conference will be held at Wellington when it is expected visitors from the Australian Slates will be present. During lhe year twelve new members were elected. Five meetings of members were held and our thanks are due to the following gentlemen for addresses given. Messrs W. Douglas Taylor, E. B. E. Taylor, F. W. Shallcrass, W. Meldrum. The rules provide for the election of President, three VicePresidents, Registrar and a Council of six members. The report, and the balance-sheet, showing a credit balance of £5l 16s lOd were adopted.

The election of officers resulted:— Hon. Patron, Mr Joseph Taylor (reelected); hon. Vice-Patron, Mr W. C. Mirfin (Ikamatua); hon. Vice-Presid-ents, Messrs T. H. Lee (Reefton), D. J. Evans (Hokitika) (re-elected), G. E. J. Taylor (Westport). In moving that the Association appoint Mr Ferner’s successor as Magistrate to, the position of President, Mr W. Meldrum said that he considered it was almost a natural thing to appoint the Magistrate in the district. He was the senior Justice of the Peace by virtue of his office, and by reason of the fact that as Magistrate and Warden he travelled all over the district, and was able to get in touch with members. Further, his whole time was taken up in the administration of justice, and he was more fitted for the position. He moved that Mr G. G. Chisholm, S.M., be appointed, subject to his acceptance of the position. Air P. C. Heaphy, in seconding the nomination, concurred with the remarks of Mr Meldrum. The Chairman said there was another view, but as he was severing his connection with the Association, he did not feel that he should propound the view again, more so when Mr Meldrum had mentioned “subject to Mr Chisholm's acceptance.” Mr G. G. Chishoim, S.M., was elected President, subject to his acceptance of the position. In thanking Mr P. J. McLean for the nomination of Mr G. E. J. Taylor (Westport) as a Vice-President to replace the late Mr E. R. Fox (Westport), the Chairman said that he knew Mr Taylor was particularly interested in the work of the Association, and was Child Welfare Officer at West port; also District Coroner, and he discharged his duties in a very etlicient manner. Mr M. J. Fogarty was re-elected honorary Registrar. The following members of the Executive Council were re-elected:— Messrs P. J. McLean, J. M. Bunt, J Kyle W. T. Ogilvie, F .W. Shallcrass and D. Tennent. Mr P. J. McLean was re-elected honorary Auditor, and Mr N. V. Lovell, honorary official reporter. Mr Meldrum moved that £lO 10s be voted to the Registrar for his services during the past year. It had been a labour of pleasure with Mr Fogarty, but they had to look a little further and show their appreciation in a practical way of his good work. Mr J. Ryan (Rotomanu) seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The Chairman said that there was I no doubt that. Mr Fogarty had lent j every effort in furthering the affairs ■of the Association. Some of the work i entailed was not familiar to members, ' but their new policy of meeting quarterly involved a great deal of work. The amount could only be regarded as a mere honorarium, and; not as a payment of salary for the amount of services rendered.