ESTABLISHED 1866. The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. MONDAY, JULY 21, 1913. MAGISTRATES AND THEIR SALARIES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 170, 21 July 1913, Page 4

ESTABLISHED 1866. The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. MONDAY, JULY 21, 1913. MAGISTRATES AND THEIR SALARIES.

\n excellent day's work was done m the House-of Representatives on Friday, and the Pirime Minister said "good boys" and moved the adjournment at'the comparatively early hour of ten o'clock. Amongst Government measures which passed their second reading were the Copyright Bill, which brings the New Zealand law or copyright into consonance with recent British legislation on that subject; the Institute of Architects Bill, to which there was considerable opposition all itound the House, and Which has wisely been referred- to a. special committee for revision; a Bill amending the Income Tax regulations, and the Magistrates' Courts Amendment Bill. To the new Income Tax proposals we may refer at length oil another :soccafei6n. : The Magistrates' Couirts Amendment Bill not only provides for I increases of salaries to the Stipendiary Magistrates, but contains several provisions which should make for : tfhe better administration _of justice and the convenience of litigants. It provides fortwo classes of magistrates. To the first, those in the chief cities, ■it is proposed to pay salaries of - £800'a year. All other magistrates will (receive £700. The increased salary will, it is hoped and contended by the Attorney-General, wiho, introduced the Bill, lead to the appointment of a better class of men to magistrates' •positions, the magistrates being really placed on the same footing as the English County Court judges.' ■: Of late years many extra duties and responsibilities have been thrown upon the Stipendiary Magistracy. -■Magistrates are coroners, and have to deal with matters relating to pension's land compensations. It is th© opinion of the Attorney-Gen eral that ■ tlife-' old system under which Clerkst>f Courts could be promoted to ia rmsition should be abolished: and' although, in certain oases',which" we could mention, such gpntlemen have given every satisfaction, as magistrates, there aire others in which, Jj> is an open sec-ot, the contrary has been the case. The appointment as magistrates of well-trained barristers and solicitors and such gentlemen only as have enjoyed a lengthy office experience must make for greater legal efficiency on the bench-;f but the* salaries' hitherto paid to'the magistrates have not been high enou'Gflt to make a (really wellqualified man throw up his practice and. as is often nfscessairy, break up Ms home. The Bill will involve an extra expenditure this year of some £1600,. and next year, when the new regulations come into full operation, of about double that amount. _ We are not, -as a rule, inclined to view with favor any proposals for substantial increase^ of emolument to the highe.rHrj'd''officers of the . Public Service*; but w$ agree with more than one Member who spoke on the Bill that in this case the t monev is bein.q^ well spent. \ .Mfr!'HJanan, the Member for Inveroargfll, himself a lawyer, although usually not given to applauding measures emanating from the present t3overnment, warmly approved of the general principle of the Bill. With regard to the powers of magistrates, he wanted to see them increased, so tlm+. .i<«s work would go forward to the Sup-ome Court; "he wanted the Magistrate's Court brought nearer to the people." At present in many important centres there was no resident Supreme Court judge.'" "and only half-yearly sittings we^re held. A good deal of this work could, argued Mr Hanaro, be earned out in the Magistrates' Courts, to the great advan.ta.a3e of the people. The Member for Wairau also commended the Bill, although foe expressed a personal opinion that the teachers, should.■ have had their ? salaries raised before such substantial increases were given to.the.;. magistrates.' There.had," paid Mir McCallum, b^en a rumor that magistrates would, by the Bill, be placed on the same footing as the Supremo Court judges—we presume Mr McCallum was '-here referring to. tenure of office—but the Minister was, he said. to. be commended- for not having gone so far.