THE MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11877, 28 April 1899, Page 4

THE MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

During the hearing of a criminal charge on Wednesday, Mr Donnelly expressed the opinion that Christchurchi was in need of another paid Magistrate. The remark may not have been strictly complimentary to the gentlemen on the Bench, but it isohe for ■which], under the circumstances, the speaker may well be forgiven. We think that there are not many people who will disagree with Mr DonneEy in the view that another Magistrate is required. As a matter of fact the appointment has been delayed far too long. No proof of this could be more striking than that supplied by the case under notice. Four amateur Justices were, doubtless with the very best, of intentions, engaged in investigating a serious charge against a police constable. The amateur Justice has usually a limited time at his disposal. He wishes to be strictly fair, but he also wishes to get through the business as rapidly as possible. The minuteness shown by Mr Donnelly on Wednesday did 'not please the gentlemen on the Bench, who probably considered the consciousness of having done their duty an inadequate reward for a long day spent in the not 'Very cheerful precincts of the Magistrate's Court. In the midst of his cross-examination the solicitor was reminded tJiat "time was getting on." The reply was the remark we have quoted. Mr Donnelly expressed the opinion, and quite rightly, that much more thoroughness and much less impatience would be shown by a qualified Magistrate, who was paid to do what the amateur Justices were doing. As it happened, this particular case had to be postponed from Wednesday until Monday of next week. It seems that the presiding Justices cannot sit again until Monday, Mr Beetham is busy elsewhere, and the result is a delay, painful to the man whose liberty is at stake and extremely irritating to the public. It need hardly be said that promptness is almost as desirable as impartiality in the administration of the law. To show how the business of the Court has outgrown the present arrangements it may be pointed out that the work has increased five-fold since the first Magistrate was appointed thirty-five years ago. Even if three Magistrates were stationed here, as they should be, each would be busier now than one was ten years ago. Mr Beetham, with a press of work to which, the hearing of pension claims has been added, has never more than a day a week to devote to the criminal sittings of the Court. Very often he has only the part of ai day. The result, as instanced in the case we have mentioned, is amateur jurisdiction, irritation on all sides, and vexatious delay. Nothing better can be expocted so long as the crying need of the district for another paid Magistrate is ignored.