MAGISTRATE'S CONSCIENCE CLAUSE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 128, 6 July 1914, Page 6

MAGISTRATE'S CONSCIENCE CLAUSE.

To Editor of THE SUW. ' Sir, —THE SUN, in its Saturday'« issue/ contained a "True Blue Conservative" objection to the <( equity and good conscience" clause which appears in the Magistrate 's Court Bill circulated by the present Liberal Party which now occupies the seats of Government. As a close observer of what transpires in our courts, I consider that the operation of the clause objeeted to by "Practitioner" has been a perfect godsend to the unfortunate client,who has fcftmd himself wellnigh overwhelmed by a well-paid, clever legal luminary, who, caring more for his fee than that justice shall' triumph, jenI deavours to crush his opponent. In the ! iate Mr B. Beetham and in our present ! senior magistrate, Mr H. W. Bishop, we have been fortunate in-having two men whose sense of fair play and justice were stronger ,than a regard for technical points of law, which often mean a - miscarriage of justice. And I do trust thatMr Massey, whom I sincerely believe. desires a fair deal to all glasses, will see that the clause is retained. "Practitioner " suggests that ' th®' clause prevents litigants from being: ai* vised legally with any certainty. Well, that is rather a good thing, as it will stop men devoid of conscience rushing into our courts and depending only on some technical point.—l am, ete., A SON OF TOIL.