WARM AND SINCERE TRIBUTES ARE PAID TO RETIRING MAGISTRATE

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 April 1949, Page 4

WARM AND SINCERE TRIBUTES ARE PAID TO RETIRING MAGISTRATE

When he rose from the Bench in the Magistrate’s Court, WanKanui, yesterday, air. J. H. Salmon, S.M., had completed 281 years' service as a stipendiary magistrate, more than two-thirds ot which were spent in Wanganui, The occasion was marked by a large gathering, at which members of the Wanganui District Law Society, the Wanganui branch of the Justices’ Association!, police and court officials paid warm and sincere tributes to the fair and able manner in which Mr. Salmon had administered justice. Particular reference was made to the courtesy and help which ho had always extended, to the way in which he had conducted his courts, and to the standard of law and order maintained in the district under his

jurisdiction. The president of the Wanganui District Law Society, Mr. B. C. Haggitt, presided, other speakers being Mr. C. R. White, vice-president of Wanganui branch of the Justices' Association, Senior-Sergeant F. Cuiloty, whodepu Used for Inspector E. Forsythe, who was absent from Wanganui on police business, and the clerk of the court and registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr. A. R. C. Claridgo "For just over 20 years Your Worship has carried out in this courtroom the duties of stipendiary magistrate, coroner and chairman of the Licensing Conrmittee, and it is not only fitting, but it it our privilege that we, who have appeared so often before you, should appear today for the purpose of conveying to Your Worship how much we have appreciated the manner in which you have carr'—' out those duties,” said Mr. Haggitt.

"To the Bar you have been not only the ‘magistrate with whom we have come into almost daily contact, but a true friend of the law. Justice has been administered by you fairly, fearlessly and ably, as is shown not only by the appreciation of your ability by the practitioners who have appeared before you, but by the extreme paucity—and I use that expression deliberately—of appeals against your -decisions, and by the marked lack ot success of the majority of what appeals there have been. JUSTICE ADMINISTERED "It has been said, and truly said, that it is a duty of a Court of Justice (hat not only should justice be done, but that it should appear to be done, and the observance of that maxim lias always, in our experience, been one of your many attributes," Mr. Haggitt added. “I ventaure, with respect, to say that you have always endeavoured to soften the blow to the disappointed litigant, or to the convicted defaulter, by giving your reasons for your judgment or tor entering a conviction, and have so ensured that the person disappointed or convicted has left your court knowing that his case had been truly tried and judged upon.” In spite of the demands on his time and the necessity to sit almost daily and be absent on circuit, Mr. Salmon had always obeyed the rule that justice must not be delayed and his reserved judgments had been delivered with exemplary promptitude. Throughout the long period of his service, he had presided over his court with dignity and firmness, but with a complete absence of what were termed ‘‘scenes in court.” “We feel that we are losing not only a great friend, but a great jurist," said Senior-Sergeant Cuiloty. Mr. White, who apologised for the absence of the president of the Justices’ Association, Mr. R. P. Andrews, and the registrar, Mr. S. M. Dixon, said that Mr. Salmon had always experienced those passionate desires for fair dealing so essential to the administration of justice. “You have always been jealous for the standard and traditions of British justice, and justice lias always been safe in your hands," Mr. White added. MR. SALMON’S REPLY. “You have all been extremely kind in your valedictory expressions, possibly too kind and generous,” said Mr Salmon in reply. "I am deeply grateful to you all for the kindness, courtesy and assistance received during by term of office in this district. In the course of some 284 years’ service, more than two-thirds of that has been spent in the Wanganui district, and for that I am grateful because I have had some happy years and have made some firm friends. "You realise that this occasion for me is tinged with sadness. This is the end of the road, the putting off one’s duties of half a lifetime, but if I leave you with the knowledge that my work has met with your appreciation, that is all the reward I seek," Mr. Salmon added. After recalling the names of deceased members of the Bar, Mr. Salmon said that a younger generation had arisen. It had been a source of great pleasure to him to see the young, brilliant members of the profession who were now coming on, and a great pleasure to reflect that some were the sons of old members. "I forsee a brilliant and successful future for these young men, so long as they hold to ihe traditions of the Bar,” said Mr. Salmon.

EARLIER GATHERING. Presenting Mr Salmon, at an earlier gathering, with a set of pipes and a tobacco pouch on behalf of the Court staff, police and Transport Department in Wanganui, Mr. Claridge said that he had known Mr. Salmon since he was associated with the Court of Arbitration in 1920. “1 have never worked in a place where the relationship between the magistrate and the staff has been better,” Mr. Claridge added, thanking Mr. Salmon for the help and co-operation he had always extended. "We are very sorry that you are leaving us.’’ Senior-Sergeant Culloty said the police appreciated the kindness which Mr. Salmon had always shown, and owed him a debt of gratitude for the standard of law and order maintained in the district under his jurisdiction. “I would also thank Mr. Salmon for the kindness he has shown to mo when I have been prosecuting in the Court,” Senior - Sergeant Culloty added. ‘‘Wo have much to thank Mr. Salmon for,” said Detective-Sorgehnt J. C. Robertson. ‘‘ln retiring, he Will have the satisfaction of knowing that Wanganui is a law-abiding city equal to any other in the Dominion. This is due to his efforts in maintaining law and order in the community. The work of the police has been very much lessened by his judgments and the conduct of his courts.” Traffic Inspector W. Wilson, rep-

resenting the Transport Department, thanked Mr. Salmon for his help, and wished him a long and happy retirement. “I appreciate very much the kindness shown, but it did not need anything of this sort to keep you in my memory,” said Mr. Salmon. "I shall never forget the kind assistance received from you all.” After paying a warm tribute to the taff of the justice Department, Mr. ■"almon said he had at all times and on many occasions expressed Ins anre iationof the high stand \ *d of the Police Force in New Zealand. “I ward to assure you.” he added, “that I have always had the welfare of the force at heart.” The police and traffic innpecflf s had ’'resented their cases with explicit fairness, and without, that fairness it would have been difficult for him to have carried out his duties.