MAGISTRATE’S POWERS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 29 September 1927, Page 6

MAGISTRATE’S POWERS

EXTENSION OF JURISDICTION.

SERVICE BY LETTER,

(Special to “Tribune.”) Wellington, Sept. 29.

Some important amendments affecting the jurisdiction of Magistrates are contained in the Magistrates’ Courts Amendment Bill, introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday. The power as to the attachment of debts is to be limited to the sum of £3OO, and where an application for attachment for a debt over that amount is made, the Magistrate may make an order for a portion of the debt, 4he portion not to exceed £3OO. The jurisdiction of Magistrate’s in cases of breaches of contract, or fort, debt, partnership accounts, or disputes, and the enforcement of claims on some movable property, is to be extended from £2OO to £3OO. An extension is also to be made with regard to the power.; of the Courts in claims for the recovery of possession of tenements. As the Act now stands, the jurisdiction is limited to premises the value of which does not exceed £2OO, but it is proposed to extend jurisdiction to premises up to the value of £1250.

The Bill provides for the service of summonses and other processes, other than judgment summonses and summonses for the recovery of possession of tenements, by registered letter. The adoption of this clause will mean a saving in mileage fees. Power is to be given defendants in civil actions to join third parties to an action by due notice, and with leave of the Court. The Bill also contains several maahine . clauses designed to facilitate the dealing with cases before the Courts. The Bill was read a first time.