THE MAGISTERIAL BENCH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15451, 1 November 1910, Page 6

THE MAGISTERIAL BENCH.

Tun very grave statements made byMr H. W. Northcroft in Auckland yesterday call for the closest investigation. Mr Northcroft hns occupied a seat on tho magisterial bench for thirty-three years, and ho must havo spoken with a full understanding of the significance of his words. “ Our magistrates aro not independent,” ho said; “ they are subject too much to political influence.” Of courso there is no measure of political influence, much or little, that can be proporly brought to hour upon tho magistrates, and Mr Northcroft need not havo qualified his complaint. “Magistrates,” ho continued, “ have industrial and other disputes brought before them outside their usual judicial work, and constant endeavours are made from influential sources to bring them under tho whip.” Wo often have had statements of this kind from politicians, but never before, wo think, from anyone who could speak with Mr Northcroft's authority. Tho suggestion that tho transfer of industrial disputes to tho magistrates' courts has increased the difficulties of the occupants of the bench has little bearing on tho matter. If political influence is exerted in one direction it will be oxerted in another, and tho whole business ought to be probed to tho bottom. Wo do not want to judge tho case in advance, but it is difficult to believe that Mr Northcroft’s statements can bo borne out by evidence. Surely if “constant endeavours” aro being made from “ influential sources ” to bring magistrates “ under tho whip ” somo courageous soul would have been found long before this to expose the iniquitous practice.