MAGISTRATES' TENURE OF OFFICE

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11642, 21 August 1905, Page 7

MAGISTRATES' TENURE OF OFFICE

Discussion In Parliament.

The question of an alteration in the tenure of the office of magistrates was discussed at great length in the House on Friday last, a motion being moved by Mr Massey to reduce the salaries vote by £1, as an indication that the basis of tenure should be placed on a more independent and permanent footing in respect to toth magistrates and District Court judges. Mr Massey emphasised the arguments which have so often been advanced in favour of placing magistrates in a- position of independence, similar to that of the Supreme' Court judges, and he said that no matter how their votes might be cast he wa3 certain that a majority of the members of the House were of the same opinion. The Premier said that the present system had been in vogue for a great number of years, and if they were going to adopt the change advocated by Mr Massey they should determine all present appointments and nrake fresh ones. The whole question was whether the Government and the Hou6e were going to bo subordinated to District Judge Kettle. Mr Massey: No. Mr Seddon: It was Mr Kettle who had originated the proposal. That magistrate had received fair treatment. He was an excellent magistrate and an independent one, but, he used the term without offence, he had his peculiarities. Mr Massey : So- have you. Mr Seddon: And so has the honourable gentleman.

Mr Massey, in the course of his reply, gave a denial to the statement that Judge Kettle was responsible for the proposal. The motion was negatived, but only by the narrow majority of seven votes.

In another column me Wanganui Milkmen's Association announce that the price of milk will be reduced to 3d per quart from September Ist.

The 1904 report of the inspector of factories, workrooms, and shops, Victoria, says: — C- The . past year, taking the factories as a whole, has been the best in the history of the State."

The registrar of electors for Wanganui (Mr Trimble) informs us that there have been 2000-' new applications for enrolment on the electoral roll, and that when the roll is complete it will contain between 8000 and 8200 names.

A correspondent writes complaining that on Saturday night someone fired some shot from a gun at a dog in Guyton Street. The animal was wounded and howled piteously for several minutes, when a second shot was fired at it. E!ven then the dog was not killed outright, but died later on.

A well-attended meeting of Mr Willis's supporters took place Jast Friday evening. Mr Willis spoke on various political matters for a- short time, and then answered questions to the entire satisfaction of those present. To shW their appreciation and approval of Mr Willis's 'candidature, the meeting, as a whole, formed themselves into a^committce to secure his return.

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