JUSTICES OF THE PEACE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 25 July 1935, Page 7

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE

MINISTER CONSIDERS REMITS ; THE GRANd’jURY SYSTEM ' (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 24. , Twenty-three remits as passed by the conference of justices of the peace’ were submitted to-day to the Minister of justice, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, by a deputation from the Federation of New Zealand Justices Association.

In reply to the suggested abolition of the grand jury system Mr. Cobbe said his department was watching very closely the result of an experiment in Britain', and the matter would be given full consideration. He agreed that the placarding of the doors of. public buildings with objections to the jury list was rather antiquated and lie assured them the Child Welfare Actwas being considered and would bo revised, particularly in the direction of removing the'existing anomalies. j As regards remits dealing with motor vehicles, noisy cycles and dangers on the highway, these questions did not .come under his jurisdiction, he said, but he woidd submit them to the Minister of Transport.

Referring to the appointment of justices of the peace the Minister said every care was taken to investigate the nominations and in each case a report was submitted to the stipendiary magistrate in each district for consideration. An effort was being made to prepare an up-to-date list of justices, as it was recognised that the existing roll was obsolete.

Consideration would be given to a suggestion for the establishment of central offices for use, by justices of the peace and members of tlie public.