JUSTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20190, 30 August 1927, Page 6

JUSTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL REPORT. ■ The following is the first annual report of the Otago Justices’ of the Peace Association for the period ended July 31, 1927:The year was commenced with a membership of 81 and finished with 116 names on the roll. The association lost by death three members during the year: Messrs A. Halcrow, P. Maclaurin, and C. F. Sundstrum. The retiring officers are: President, one vice-president, two * members of council, treasurer, and secretary, who retire from office as per rule. All are eligible, and oSer themselves for re-election at the annual general meeting. President, H. C. Campbell; vice-president, H. E. Moller; council members —J. J. Marlow, W. A. Flavell; treasurer, I. M'Farlanp; secretary, J. W. Patton. Other nominations will be received at the annual meeting. During the year the association has held two meetings which proved highly successful. Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., addressed. the members on “The Duties of a Justice of the Peace,” and Mr n. W. Bundle, S.M., also delivered a very interesting and instructive address. The attendance at both meetings was very, satisfactory.. The Federation of Justices held its annual conference- in this city on March 24, 1927. This conference proved very instructive and enjoyable. The association was represented by Messrs H. C. Campbell and H. E. Moller. A report of the whole doings of the conference has been forwarded to each member of the association in the special issue of the Justices’ Magazine. The visitors expressed themselves highly delighted with all the arrangements made for them during their stay in Dunedin. We are pleased to welcome to our ranks four lady justices— Mrs G. Roberts, Mrs D. Leech, Miss J. Runciman, Miss N. Dick. We are pleased to report that the majority of the members have purchased the medallion, the design receiving the approval of the Justice Department. We desire to take this opportunity to tender our best thanks to the magistrates' for their addresses; to those who so efficiently assisted at our social function; to - the owners of the motor cars which were placed at our disposal for conference trip ; Mr H. E. Barrowclough, the hon. solicitor, and Mr H. D. Bennett, of the Law Courts, for his courtesy in preparing the room for our meetings. We think it will be acknowledged by the men and women who have been honoured by the Crown in being made justices of the peace that the forming of an association in Dunedin has proved beneficial in many ways. First, it has brought together those upon whom this honour has been conferred in a way that was not possible previously; and, secondly, it has helped to Strengthen the office inasmuch as the forming of the association has brought before the public in a prominent way the very high office which a commissioner of the peace is. Then, there is the federation of justices for the Dominion. Each year a conference is held, the last of which, as you will note, was in Dunedin. The congregating of representative justices from the various parts of the Dominion is undoubtedly another factor for the welfare of the people. The remits brought forward at thesa- conferences have been given much thought, and in every instance they are the consensus of opinions from a body of men whose principal ideas are the improvement of the conditions of those who come under the law and the betterment of social conditions.