COURT PROCEDURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22608, 22 December 1936, Page 12

COURT PROCEDURE

RETIRING MAGISTRATE

TRIBUTES TO MR. F. K. HUNT

COMMENTS ON POLICE FORCE Tlio suggestion that New Zealand might with advantage follow the Australian lead and endeavour to obtain recruits for the police force direct from secondary schools when a youth was in his 'teens was advanced yesterday in the Magistrate's Court at Otahuhu by Mr. F K. Hunt, S.M., during his acknowledgment of farewell tributes from members of the legal profession and Court officials

Mr. R W. F. Wood, oil behalf of the local legal fraternity, said members of the Bar had always appreciated the unfailing courtesy which Mr. Hunt had extended and recognised that his judicial commonsense had made tho Court what it was intended to be —a people's Court. Other counsel also tendered tributes and mado special reference to the magistrate's consideration for the younger and inexperienced counsel who had appeared before him. The Mayor of Otahuhu, Mr. C. It Petrie, M.P.. said that as a justice of the peace he had acquired some understanding of the position which Mr. Hunt had won for himself in the community. The Bench would bo tho poorer by Mr. Hunt's absence, but no one would grudge his well-earned retirement Sergeant J. Cahill and Mr. F. Jones, traffic inspector, also tendered their good wishes. Mr. Hunt said he had seen Otahuhu grow from a small village to tho large township of to-day, irom the days when a Court was held once quarterly and tho only reasonable access was by train. He had always endeavoured to conduct Courts in the country along tho lines advised by his predecessor, Mr. .J \V Poynton. "He told me never to allow technicalities to get in tho way," said Mr. Hunt. " ' Hear the cases of litigation as quickly as you can and send tho folks back to tho farms or their work without unnecessary delay.'" Mr. .Hunt said he had tried to do that Why trouble to waste 20 minutes over a case if 10 minute? would suffice'i On that basis he had tried to do justice to all men who had appeared before him. In acknowledging his admiration for the work of the police, Mr. Hunt said that in country places he regarded the constable as next to the medical practitioners in community importance. If the public recognised its debt to tho police force it would pay the officers better and see that they got better conditions. Too often a constable's valuable time was occupied in making lots of useless inquiries. With the general extension of education there were more educated men now joining the police force. In Australia there was a move toward securing recruits at an early age, while the youths were in their 'teens. That was a distinctly forward move which should be appreciated.