NEW MAGISTRATE

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20463, 1 April 1938, Page 9

NEW MAGISTRATE

MR FREEMAN WELCOMED GATHERING AT COURT ARRANGEMENT OF CIRCUIT Members of the Hamilton District Law Society gathered in the Magistrate s Court, Hamilton, yesterday afternoon when a welcome was extended by Mr H. J. McMullin, newlyelected president of the society, to Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., who has arrived on transfer from Invercargill. Speaking for the practising members of the profession, Mr McMullin said he understood the Waikato district was not altogether unfamiliar to Mr Freeman, who had started his career at Rotorua about 30 years ago. The speaker hoped that Mr Freeman would find the change from Southland a pleasant one. The district had also further reason for welcoming another magistrate, .since increased court work had been causing congestion in the country areas. It was pleasing to know that a rearrangement of the magisterial circuits was making it possible for a second magistrate to come to Hamilton. Mr McMullin felt sure that Mr Freeman could count upon the courtesy, consideration and goodwill of the legal profession. In the past most cordial relations had existed between Bench and Bar and he felt sure that as long as Mr Freeman remained such good relations would continue. “Some Misunderstanding.” Replying to the welcome, Mr Freeman said that it appeared that there was some misunderstanding regarding his appointment.** He was merely taking over the district of Mr F. 11. Levien, S.M., but he had asked that he might live in Hamilton. “Mr Levien’s district,” he said, “seems to-me to be worked from the wrong end. A glance at the map would seem to indicate that Hamilton is the logical centre.” Regarding that particular circuit, the difficulty in the past seemed to navp been that, being dependent on the train, the magistrate had had to keep one eye on the clock, a state of affairs unsuitable to the Bench,' the Bar or litigants. He was pleased to be in the district again, though he hoped that there would soon be some rearrangement of the circuits in the area. At present these were not, in his opinion, as satisfactory as they had been when lie had been in Rotorua about 30 years ago. He was certain that the good relations between the Bench and the Bar. would continue. Following the official welcome, Mr Freeman was introduced to members of the profession by Mr McMullin.

Commander of the British Home fleet, becomes. Britain’s First Sea Lord. Ilis new title is Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty and Chief of the Naval Staff.