JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3882, 7 August 1928, Page 67

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

QUARTERLY ASSOCIATION

At the quarterly meeting of the Otago Justices of the Peace Association, held on Tuesday evening in the Officers’ Club Rooms, Mr J. J. Marlow, who was the delegate at the annual meeting of the Justices’ Federation at Auckland, gave a lengthy account of what had transpired at the meeting, and of; the attitude he had. taken up in connection with the various matters brought forward. The chair was occupied by Mr H. C. Campbell, who requested those present to. stand as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Mr A. W. Wallis, member of the association, and a J.P. for a number of years. The request having been complied with. Mr Campbell said it was not necessary for him to introduce Mr Marlow, as they all knew him well as a citizen of Dunedin who had done yeoman service so far as the affairs of the city were concerned. He had heard it said that while chairman of the Electric Power and Lighting Committee he had done work that had never been done before or since. Mr Marlow said that when a man had represented a body at a conference it was his duty to place the result of the conference before his constituents ; that was the reason why he was there that evening. In. dealing with the matter he wanted to place things before them as they had appeared to him. He might make a few comparisons that he hoped the press would ignore. He had to deal with things that would be better forgotten. At Auckland thev had been very good to him. He proceeded to describe the reception he had met with, and said that the people there had spoken highly of the work done by Mr Campbell, and ■J 1 " * the secretary. Mr Marlow then read out a very long list of the subjects discussed at the conference, and made passing comments upon some of them. Continuing he said those in Auckland did not neglect the social part of the conference, and he was made aware of the beauty of many New Zealand things of which he had previouslv had no idea. There was a treasure house there,, and he had never seen anything like it. He enumerated several other places of interest. h e had visited, and referred to the social evening at the finish of his stay in Auckland. As to the general aspect of the conference there was a tendency to ask too much from the Government. It would be much better not to ask for anything unless they had a just claim to it. They should consider it a privilege to serve’. There had been a number of applications for concessions of which he did not approve. He thought the outstanding man at the conference was Mr Rosser, who was a cultured speaker, full of vitality, and possessing an abundant fund of anecdote. The men there were exceptionally fine men, but some were “ touchy.” As to tht formation of centres, Wellington had at least three. They were not separate associations, but sub-sections, and Wellington was strongly represented. The amusing thing was that these had a right to speak, but not to vote. Auckland had two representatives in the same way, and both spoke, but they had no vote. He suggested that they should get into touch with Invercargill to get a few justices together, and considered that it would pay to send the president, or someone else, down there to advise as to the desirability of forming an association. Mr J. H. Wilkinson, in moving a vote of thanks to Mr Marlow, said they were fortunate in being represented at the conference by so able a man. So far the association was only young, in its infancy, as Mr Marlow had pointed out, and very little had been done to arouse the interests of those outside the association. There had bee l ! the utmost harmony and goodwill, and no doubt the association would grow and become a very useful institution. The motion was carried. Mr Bardsley pointed out what a hurdle it would be in forming u branch association when there was no vote, to which Mr Marlow replied that he would not think of asking Invercargill to form a branch unless they could tell the people there that there would be an opportunity of voting. Mr Wilkinson said that Mr Marlow had referred to certificates being issued to the relatives of a deceased J.P., and the medallion being taken away. Was there any power to insist upon them being returned?

Mr Marlow replied in the affirmative, and said that the medallion was handed over on the distinct understanding that it remained the property of the association., and had to be handed back.

The chairman made a suggestion that it would be advantageous if a list of the names of Js.P. was placed in some central position, so that anyone could ascertain where one could be found. Mr Marlow pointed out that it would be useful if “ J.P.” appeared after the names of justices, in the telephone list, but the authorities wanted the application to come from the individuals concerned.

After some further discussion of a.conversational nature, the meeting concluded.