JUSTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3828, 26 July 1927, Page 8

JUSTICES’ ASSOCIATION.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. A meeting of the executive of the ouncil of the Otago Justices’ Association was held in the jury room at the Law Courts on Tuesday. The president, Mr H. C. Campbell, was yi the chair, and there was a good attendance of members. Communictaions ■were received from the following appreciative of the kindness shown to delegates to the Federation Conference held in Dunedin during March:— Messrs A. J. Stratford, Charles Wheeler (Auckland), J. Russell Brunt (Christchurch), I. Salek (Wellington), and P. J. Galliers (Blenheim). —On he motion of the president it was decided to receive the communications with apprcciatica. Mr I. Salek (Wellington), hon. registrar of the Federation of New Zealand Justices, wrote forwarding a report with regard to remits passed at the conference held in Dunedin in March last. lie stated that Mr F. C. Cray and himself had waited on the Minister of Justice and presented the remits to him. With regard to justices being exempted from serving on common juries the Minister explained that Grand jurors were drawn from the common jury list, and if the names were not included in the list then the Grand Jury would lose the services of justices whose knowledge was so valuable in carrying out the duties of the office. Therefore he was afraid he could not comply with the request. The Minister said he was not favourable to a decree being issued making it compulsorv for every justice in the Dominion, ’within certain specified dates, to register at the nearest S.Af. Court or other public building to be named, and notify in writing their willingness, or otherwise, to act and perform the duties of a justice of the peace. The Minister was of opinion that the jurisdiction of justices should be extended to deal with cases in which the value of property did not exceed £2O. The Minister did not favour summary jurisdiction being extended to cases ot false declarations under the Marriage Act where the person charged was under 21 years of age, or to breaches of the Post and Telegraph Act. With regard to cases where a young person under 16 years of age was charged under tho Child Welfare Act the Minister said the recommendation to have the case heard before a Children’s Court would have his sympathetic consideration. The Minister did not favour any departure from the present methods of appointing justices. A very tlose investigation was made into the eligibility of those appointed, and every

care was taken that men of well-known character and reputation _were chosen. The Minister said he would be pleased to discuss with Mr H. Holland, M.P. (Christchurch) the question of reciprocity between the Australian States and New Zealand for justices to act for ond on behalf of Australia and New Zealand.— The communication was received. It was arranged that the first annual meeting of the Otago Association be held in the Somerset Lounge on August 30. It was also decided that a list of members be printed in the annual report.