NEW MAGISTRATE

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1935, Page 7

NEW MAGISTRATE

MR. FREEMAN FAREWELLED. ' i ' LARGE GATHERING AT HAWERA. Congratulations and good wishes were extended to Mr. W. H. Freeman, New Plymouth,'formerly of Hawera, upon his recent elevation to the magistracy at an informal gathering at Hawera arranged by the Hawera Law Society on Monday morning. Those who attended were Messrs. D. G. Smart (president), J. E. Campbell (Mayor of Hawera), B. McCarthy, A. Coleman, G. J. Bayley, Ji Edmondston, H. D. Caplen, J. Foy, B. Malone, L. A. Taylor, F. W. Homer, A. K. North, J. Houston, M. Niccol, C. O. Pratt (clerk of court), E. Dixon and G; H. Buckerldge (justices of the peace). They had -assemljled to offer Mr. Freeman congratulations Upon his recent appointment and express the hope that he would find his new duties most congenial, Mr. Smart said. They had no misgivings about his ability to carry out those dutes. Among them as their clerk of court from 1919 to 1922, Mr. Freeman had sliown marked ability and efficiency, and his experience since had better fitted him to hold the scales of justice with an even hand.

Those who occupied positions on the magisterial bench had opportunities of influencing the community, said Mr. Houston. s It was therefore in the public interest that those appointed should be men capable of exerting the best influence, men of integrity, having a sound knowledge of the law and richly endowed with common sense. In a changing world men were needed to inculcate high standards of honour and fair dealing. Mr. Freeman’s past good citizenship at Hawera bad not been forgotten, said Mr. Campbell in extending the congratulations and good wishes of the citizens of Hawera. They were proud he had been selected, arid felt sure he would creditably carry out his duties. A vigorous and independent mind was among the characteristics which. Mr. Freeman would bring to his new position, said Mr. North. For that reason they were pleased he had received the appointment. Administering justice in a court which covered so thoroughly the workaday world, a magistrate required an attitude of mind in which the search for truth was sincere and definite, and in which his decisions had to be caiefully considered. They believed Mr. Freeman possessed those qualifications. Congratulations on behalf of’ the justices of the peace were expressed by Mr. Dixon, who recalled the kindness of Mr. Freeman to the justices while he was at Hawera.

Tribute to Mr. Freeman’s efficiency ,as an officer of the. Department of Justice was expressed by Mr. Taylor. He felt sure Mr. Freeman would measure up to the high standard required for his new office and be impartial, independent and fearless. It was gratifying to officers of the department’that one who had been one of them had received such a high appointment, said Mr. Pratt. The new magistrate was held in high esteem as a very efficient officer. He had spent many happy years as an officer of the Justice Department, said Mr. Freeman in reply. He had been recommended by a Taranaki practitioner to ofialify for law, and the fact that he had’done so had helped him greatly in later life. Among outside activities m which he had taken an active part the sports of J achting, at which he had spent 10 years at . Auckland, and bowling, one of the finest of games, had helped him greatly in the moulding of character. The legal practitioners of Taranaki were a fine body of men, and. he appreciated very much the good wishes expressed. His associations with the practitioners both as clerk of court and as one of them were very pleasant, and though conscious of the high office which he was to fill, he regretted the severing of his relationships with his Taranaki friends.