TYRANNY OF THE LAW.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7999, 18 October 1887, Page 2

TYRANNY OF THE LAW.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —In your Resideut Magistrate's Court report of last week you note a dog tax case Luvsou v. Simeon. His Worship, in reply to my illustration of the injustice of the tax, stated ho was not there to dispense justice, but the law. I used to bo o£ opinion that equity and law went hand iv hand, but my experience of the Taranaki 11. Jl. Court has dispelled such an illusion. Certainty, this being the second or third liuie out of the 26 years of my residence in New Zealand that I hava had to answer any charge, may account for my ignoiunce; but, nevertheless, sir, I am still of opinion that a littla consideration (or shall I say mercy) should be exercised in administering the law, but not after Shylock's m inner, " Tho law allows i^ and the Court awards it." Monday afternoon v. verdict was recorded against mo. Very good. I went directly after to Mr. Lawson's office, to interview him respecting the payment, but he was away. Subse1 quently I met him at the corner or Brous>ham street. I Bail, " You are tho vi-ry gentlcm m I wish to sac, as I want to know the amount I have to pay in that do^ t'ix case. I have only a few shillings on me, but will bo iv town ou Saturday to pay you." He referred me (o the R.M. Court, stating ho had 1 nothing to do with it now, as tho money \\ ould have to bo paid into Court. I ap1 pliuJ at the R.M. office and rt quested to s?e th" cl<nk. A tall, lljiii-complexioned gentleman inforn.cd mo ho was out just then; could ho do anything for me? I replied, would he kindly furnish me with tho amount I hai to pay. He asked me if I was going to settle it then; and I said no, I hail not the money on me, bu , would briug il iv on Siturlay. Nothing very tyrannous so Tar. Cut, sir, ju.ige my surpiijo, oi calling on Saturday to pay I founi a warrant ha'i heen issued ou tho Tuesday for my arrest, and that 1 must puv an additional threo shillings. Before doin^ ao I iaterviowul that most worthy representative of the Co'inty Council ro the extrcisa of such tyrannj'. Tho satisfaction I got was, the la v allowed him and his duty prompted him. I paid tho aimuni, rpquestiug to knaw if the policonmu wouli be instructed not to ao to my house ; my wife being fioin ho.uo the children might bo alarmed; and wag informeJ that ho would be in:ine.li itely telegraphed : but, on returning home, I Sound tho policeman had been in the afternoon at my residence- to arrest in. 1 , the win rant for arrest sentencing mo t') live liars' iuipiidonmriiit with hud 1 ihor. Good 11-javens ! is it- right, sir, suoli a 4.3'iannioil powur fchoall be placed i i iiuy nun's lviniia enabling him to bring «i is race upon a rcspt eta-hle family if ho cho-'o lo ex rcisc it? If the policeman ('.')> -m i hi' Thmsl:i\, 1 h.ni not tho m>n v, mil I blnuhl hivu h.ul to goto i . mi. Forlun.itely for mo he did not. I a/-:, hir, ho v many persons at the present time, living as I am twonty-tvvo milts iio.n tjwn, could, at .i m )inv.-al's notice, pioonre £'2, iiini. in default, hive (o go to t,' 101 for live <U\\ .», vith h n\i labjr ?'• Law not j'is;ice!" " The Court aw, avis it — the Liw allo»\8 it !" The sjoner such a bailuoua l.i \v is tepealed thj belter. A law which gives ih>j (unm 1 to any 111,111, bo ho U.M., Ju Ige, or J.P. to oommil another to rive days' liuprit ):-.iniint aul lurJ labor, to work with ciniiiuals, for no crime what-evi-r, but Bimj.ly for v sum of niouoy which, at a moment's notice, ho was unable, i<) p iy, >s, 1 n)aUn I, sir, v dis^rauo to mi,' iinm mity ami our BUtutes ! Smiiiay evening, the policeman called at my house, stating lie had the warrant to enforce, but is 1 was iv town on Saturday, lie would liko to know if had done anything in tho a attsr re settlement. 1 inlormed him of tho payment having been mucle ; had ho not been telegraphed to? Ho replied, " JSOj umi tho warrant was stiU in. t'oice.

but would take no action pen-ling enquiry." I propose sending your pnper containing this to Member* of the Legislature, in the hopes that such a Urannical power m j the Act (as my letter clenriy proves exists), may be repealed or modiuecl— i atn, &c, F. Simeon. I Waiwcranui. I