MAGISTERIAL UTTERANCES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11402, 20 April 1899, Page 8

MAGISTERIAL UTTERANCES.

TO THB EDITOR. " ; Sin, —I notico in your isue of to-day it is, staled tliat in an assault case heard before ' '. Mr Hawkins, S.M. (at Hilton), " his Worship '; spoke very strongly in condemnation of the practice of teachers having recourse to corporal punishment," etc. Without expressing .' an opinion either one way or the other on the subject of punishment in schools, I should ' just like, to speak very strongly in " eondem- ■■.; nation of the'practice of some magistrates." '■'■, having recourse to airing their opinions from the bench on each and every subject tinder the sun. A wise and thoughtful magistrate would recognise1 that the mere accident of a S3at on the magisterial bench gives him no special iitness or authority for the role of Public Kdueator and Censor. Take the mat- ( tor in question, foi instance. I consider Mr Hawkins's views on that subject are of no more value or entitled to any more consideration than those of half the people who heard him. The fact is, Sir, that one or two magistrates of our inferior courts are especially guilty of the offence which 1, in common with others, condemn. On the bench it: is the S.M. who speaks, and he is there to dispense law; he is not there to air the priyaia opinions of the individual '.who holds the office—nor is the bencli the place for the promulgation of these opinions.' On any abstract question the views of the magistrate are of no more weight than those of his next door neighbour. ■ ■ '■ As I have said, my remarks have reference not so much to any particular case'as uo the evil in general.—l am, etc., ' ' ' . ■' April .18. . The Onlooker.'