IMPORTANT ROLE OF JUSTICES

Southland Times, Issue 24357, 11 February 1941, Page 4

IMPORTANT ROLE OF JUSTICES

MR JAMES WYLIE’S

ADDRESS

“The general public little realizes the important role that a justice of the peace plays in the life of the community,” stated Mr James Wylie, advisory officer to the Justice Department under the Domestic Proceedings Act, 1939, in an address yesterday to members of the Southland Justices of the Peace Association. Mr W. A. Ott presided. The justices were selected for their personal qualities, which included common sense, devotion to duty, and a true sense of citizenship and its obligations, said Mr Wylie. It was their function to sign and witness documents, to preside on the Bench, and at all times to cause their constructive personal influence to pervade all sections of the community in an effective manner. Women justices were appointed, and with the disruption of family life there was a great opportunity for them to help to stabilize the thoughts and actions of women in trouble, to the end that children would have the opportunities which were theirs by right. “Looking into the future, and taking into consideration the changing social and economic and war conditions, there will be an ever-increasing demand for the services of justices, especially after the war when thousands of men return to try to readjust themselves to civil life,” continued Mr Wylie. “Little does the average man or woman realize how much honest endeavour is being made by the thinking section of the community to grapple with the many social problems that confront us today. DUTIES OF CONCILIATORS “The main feature of the Domestic Proceedings Act, 1939, is the provision for the setting up of Court machinery to explore the possibility of conciliation before proceeding to a formal hearing in cases of complaints on the grounds of failure to maintain, persistent cruelty or habitual inebriety. Following the introduction of the Act, citizens have been selected in every town throughout the Dominion to act as conciliators, as required by the Magistrates. The first 12 months revealed that of all the cases referred to conciliators, more than 50 per cent, have either been conciliated successfully or have been withdrawn from Court hearing. The percentage for Southland was actuallj' much higher, indicating a healthy community life.” Every encouragement should be given by fellow citizens to the conciliators, who were men of good standing, experienced in dealing with both men and women, capable of making decisions, confidential in their dealings and imbued with honesty of purpose. Their job was often far from being pleasant, yet they found much satisfaction in doing this work and helping to make the world safe, not only for democracy but also for the children. Each case, so far as the conciliator was concerned, was an individual problem with individual difficulties to be surmounted. HASTY MARRIAGES “There is a good deal of truth in the old adage, ‘Marry in haste, repent at leisure,’ ” continued Mr Wylie. “Young people cannot foresee the future, especially in these difficult days. Intense love and loyalty may encourage marriage between the soldier and his chosen partner, but it is attendant with great risks. Unless both parties have strength of character, great caution should be exercised. “Even those who do not go overseas should bear in mind the hundreds of homes wrecked because of temperamental differences between husbands and wives, religious differences and indifferences, time payments, money lenders, the craving for variety and excitement, all as insidious in their effects as drunkenness and persistent cruelty. Every marriage is a burden. From the wedding day personal responsibilities and the need for self-denial are increased ten-fold. Young couples often never really understand each other. They have never studied one another for the common good. Lack of money, living with relations, indifference to those things that count for most in life, unemployment and an immature outlook on the world cause untold misery. “From these causes springs the appalling fact that juvenile delinquency is on the increase. The home has lost its grip. The cry of making the world safe for democracy cannot come about unless we make the world safe for the child. The operation of the Domestic Proceedings Act is a preventative as well as a curative procedure, striking right to the roots of home life; with the object of making the world a better place for the children to live in. “These phases of our social life call for re-education. Husbands should realize the curse of selfish possessiveness and endeavour to get an understanding of the complexes and difficulties that face their wives. On the other hand, wives should not demand the whole and sole allegiance of their husbands, at the cost of individuality and freedom of expression,” added Mr Wylie.