OVERWORKED MAGISTRATES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 35

OVERWORKED MAGISTRATES.

POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, May 1. /ffter presiding irt the court from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. yesterdav, with one break only for lunch, Mr H. A. Young. S.M., collapsed on t pavement outside the court building when lie was about to leave for home. He had had a particularly strenuous day. Assistance was im mediately forthcoming, and after he had been brought round Air Young was placed in a car and driven home. Within the past week decided opinions have been expressed that the magistrates in Christchurch are overworked. May 2. “Both the magistrates. Messrs H. Y. Widdowson and 11. A. Young, are overworked,” said Mr W. J. Hunter, president of the Canterbury Law Society, in referring to the need for a third magistrate in Christchurch. Mr Hunter said he *had no doubt that the illness of Mr Young, who fainted at the conclusion of Friday’s sitting of the court, was due to the way he had b r n overworked since lie had taken up his duties in Christchurch His sudden collanse would serve to place in a clear light the necessity for appointing a third magistrate. The city was growing, and the large increase in • the number of motor vehicles had resulted in a much heavier bur n of work for the courts. Moreover the magistrates were chairmen of the rensing benches, both had country courts to attend, and they were also coroners. Mr AViddowson was also chairman of the Tramway Appeal Hoard, and occasionally he and Mr Young were called upon to preside over commissioners. There was far too much for two magistrates to do.