“A STRONG PROTEST."

Southland Times, Issue 19173, 18 February 1924, Page 2

“A STRONG PROTEST."

To the Editor. Sir, —Ycur correspondent in your issue of the 16th, and you, Sir, in an. Editorial footnote have attempted to take to task one of our leading and hardest working Justices. I feel, from information I have gathered, that a different complexion can be put o® this episode. First your correspondent state® the alleged injustice is the fault of Mr Jackson alone. Mr Jackson was but the mouthpiece for the Bench; he having with him Mr Jas. Ward, whom I know to be a man who would not concur in any statement from the Bench which was not justified. The Police in outlining the case expressed the opinion that Mr McCurdy was not at all willing that the case should proceed. This, and this alone was, I should say, the reason for the censure from the Bench. Now, Sir, do you think it possible that Mr Jackson after holding a Commission of the Peace for over 20 years, would fail to know that there are statutory provisions whereby an impecunious accused may be supplied with counsel by the Crown; and would blunder into the idea that Mr McCurdy was doing wrong in arranging legal assistance for his employee? The idea is ridiculous. In conclusion, might 1 state, our Justice® in Invercargill are one and all conscientious, unbiassed gentlemen, and I feel sure that if ‘Fair Treatment” knew that fact he would not have rushed into print and decried a Justice for carrying out his work which is at times unpleasant, and for which the only remuneration is the satisfaction of having done his duty. I am, etc., ‘FAIR FLAY.** [The remarks to which we referred speak for themselves and in our opinion do not justify the construction placed on them by our correspondent. —Ed. S.T.]