THE NEW MAGISTRATE

Northern Advocate, 21 May 1929, Page 4

THE NEW MAGISTRATE

MB. MORRIS VISITS WHA’NGjABEI.

DISTINGUISHED CIVIL: SERVICE. RECORD.

Although neither will take up hi» new position until towards the middle of next month, both. Mr G-. N. Morris, the recently appointed S.M. for the North Auckland circuit, and Mr Tress Mer, the now Clerk of the Court, are in Whangarei on bnsines. The appointment of Mr Morris, Official Assignee at Auckland, as a stipendiary magistrate was announced a fortnight ago, when he was in Wellington attending a sitting of the Public Service Appeal Board, of which he is a member.

Mr Morris will fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., as Chief Judge of

Sjamoa. The now magistrate has had a variety of experience in Court work and other departments of the Civil Service. He was born at Queenstown, and was educated at the Otago Boys’ High School and Victoria College, Wellington, where he studied law. He entered the Old Age Pension Department in Wellington, in 1903 and five years later was transferred to the Justice Department, serving first in. Queenstown-, then in Wellington and subsequently in Christchurch, About 17 years ago he was appointed clerk of the Magistrate’s Court at Cromwell. A yesr later lie was transferred to a similar position at Lyttelton,- and in 1914 to Reofton.

Mr Morris joined the New Zealand Rifle Brigade during the war, and saw service in Prance as a second lieutenant. He was wounded at Piers in 1910, and was invalided to the Dominion in 19.17. On his discharge in that year he was made clerk of the Court at

Tauranga. Mr Morris remained at Tauranga for only a few months, for in April, 1918, he was appointed Resident Commissioner at Mue Island, where lie discharged It is duties with distinction. In 1921 he was transferred to Rarotonga as collector of customs and treasurer. In response to a petition from the natives of Niue, however, he returned to the island in 1922, and resumed his post as Resident Commissioner, returning to New Zealand three years later. In August, 1925, Mr Morris 1 became chief clerk in tho office of the official assignee in bankruptcy in Auckland, and in June, 1927, he succeeded Mr W. S. Fisher as official assignee on the latter’s retirement on superannuation.

Dargaville being in his assignee district, Mr Morris is well acquainted with the western portion of the circuit, and ho has seen cnftugh of the North to appreciate its atmosphere. With Mrs Morris, 'he 5s staying at tin* (Settlers’ Hotel, and expects to leave for Auckland tomorrow'.