REMOVAL OF S. M.

Colonist, Volume XLVIX, Issue 11845, 28 January 1907, Page 6 (Supplement)

REMOVAL OF S. M.

Ashburton, January 25. At the Magistrate Court to-day,' Mr Wray 0.M., stated that that would be the last occasion on which; he would preside. Since No-Licens© came into force he had been sub--jected to a good deal of criticism by" a section of the community, who said be had treated offenders under 1 the licensing laws with undue leniency, and." on these grounds had petitioned the Government for his removal. He had i furnished reports on these allegations, and had been officially informed that no reason had been shown for his removal. He felt that criticism of this sort would impair his usefulness as a Magistrate,, and he had asked to be relieved of the duty of presidingia the Ashburton Court, and his reque3t had been rganted. The Magistrate's duties in Canterbury had beea re-arranged and Mr V. G. Day, (SM.. in future would sit at Ashburton and Rfikaia. Mr Purnell, solicitor, on behalf of the Bar, expressed regret at the intimation. Members of the Bar had not sympathised with the petition, and had voluntraily written, a letter to the Minister of Justice stating so. Mr Wray had alway exercised great impartiality, not only in the cases referred to, but in every other case as well.