JUSTICES’ MEETING

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1935, Page 6

JUSTICES’ MEETING

GATHERING AT STRATFORD.

ADDRESS BY MR. W. H. WOODWARD

. About 20 members of the Taranaki branch of the Justices of the Peace Association, with their wives and friend?, gathered at Stratford last night for an enjoyable social evening. Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., presided.. The evening was spent in songs and social intercourse. An interesting feature of the evening was a talk on Life in Samoa by Mr. Woodward, who described the islands and the people with a wealth of detail about many sides of Samoan life. He likened the islands to the “lotus land” of Ulysses, though he stressed the fact that the same lotus land could be a prison to European people who stayed there too long. Mr. Woodward produced interesting native articles. He was ; pleased to see so many members present, said Mr. Woodward, particularly those from a distance. He welcomed the justices and their wives and friends. •An explanation of the significance of the justices of the peace medallion and the privileges attached to it was given by the registrar, Mr. J. S. Valentine. There was now a federal medallion, he said, which on the death of the recipient reverted to the possession of the association. That medallion had superseded the old Taranaki medallion. The Taranaki medallion was always the personal property of the wearer. Mr. W. McGuinness referred to Mr. W. L. Kennedy’s good work. The evening was the result of his energy ana enthusiasm. Mr. R. W. D. Robertson thanked the performers, for whom Mr. P. T. Aitken replied. _ Items were given by Mr. P. T. Aitken (songs), Mr. H. Gilmore Smith (elocution), Mr. F. J. Hill (elocution) and Mr. W. W. Thomson (songs).