COLLAPSED IN STREET AFTER STRENUOUS DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17835, 1 May 1926, Page 2

COLLAPSED IN STREET AFTER STRENUOUS DAY.

CITY MAGISTRATE FALLS OUTSIDE COURT HOUSE. Mr H. A. Young, S.M., will not preside at the Magistrate’s Court, to-day. Extreme pressure of diity has undermined his health, and he has been forced to take a rest.

After presiding at the Magistrate’s Court from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. yesterday -with one break only for lunch, Mr Young collapsed on the pavement outside the Court building when he was about to leave for home. He had had a particularly strenuous day. Assistance was immediately forthcoming, and after he had been brought

round Mr Young was placed in a car and driven to his home. Inquiries made last evening revealed that he would not be presiding over an inquest which was to be resumed before him to-day, as it was stated that he was in need of a rest. Within the past week decided opinions have been expressed that the Magistrates in Christchurch are overworked. Several solicitors closely associated with the Court work have suggested that a third Magistrate should be appointed. When asked for his opinion on this question last week, a leading solicitor stated that the present Magistrates worked absurd hours. Mr W. J. Hunter, president of the Canterbury Law Society, said that there was no question about another Magistrate being required. “ Messrs Young and Widdowson are so overworked that it is almost impossible for them to keep up with their work,” he said. "In addition to the Court work, they have eoronial and other duties to perform. Then, of course, the popularity of the motor-car has meant a further increase in work.’'

TOO MUCH WORK FOR MAGISTRATES.

NEED FOR ASSISTANCE NOW CLEARLY SHOWN.

“Both Mr Widdowson and Mr Young are overworked; there is no doubt about that,’ said Mr W. J. Hunter, president of the Canterbury Law Society, to-day, in referring to the need for a third magistrate in Christchurch. Mr Hunter said that he had no doubt that the illness of Mr Young at the conclusion of yesterday’s sitting of the Court was due to the way he had been overworked since he took up his duties in Christchurch. His sudden collapse would serve to place in a clear light the necessity for appointing a third magistrate. The city was growing, and the large increase in the number of motor vehicles had resulted in a much heavier burden of work for the Courts. Moreover, the magistrates were chairmen of licensing benches, both had country Courts to attend, and they were also coroners. Mr Widdowson was also chairman of th.e Tramway Appeal Board, and occasionally he and Mr Young were called upon to preside over commissions. There was far too much for two magistrates to do. When Mr H. P. Lawry, of Westport, was assisting on the Christchurch magisterial bench recently, said Mr Hun* ! ter, it was rumoured that he was i to remain here as third magistrate, but after a short period he was taken away , from the city. The position was par--5 ticularly bad on maintenance and bylaw days, and sometimes a case had to be held over to a second or third day. This involved the attendance of the parties, witnesses and lawyers, and resulted in considerable loss of time generally. Such inconvenience was not due to any fault on the part of the magistrates, who did their utmost to avoid delays, but was simply due to there being more work than they could | deal with promptly.