WORK OF JUSTICES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23110, 9 February 1937, Page 2

WORK OF JUSTICES

INTERFERES WITH BUSINESS A HASTINGS COMPLAINT cPeb United Press Association) HASTINGS, Feb. 8. Changes in the allocation of work which falls upon justices of the peace are advocated by Hastings men who act in that capacity. They complain that much of their time is occupied with work of this nature, and their businesses are affected as a result. One man said he spent as much as 25 hours a week in court, and to-day, for instance, in the first two hours his office had been open lie had received about 20 callers, while he had a large batch of papers which would take him a further 20 minutes to fix up. Pension work was recently increased, and last month application forms under the Mortgagors and Lessees Relief Act caused a heavy volume of work. In order to combat the position, the suggestion has been made that either many more justices be appointed or that senior Government officials, such as the postmaster, stationmaster, clerk of the court, the Public Trustee and other departmental officers, should be empowered to deal with witnessing signatures. For example, postal documents could go to the stationmaster or the court.