Protest at Transfer of Civil Court

Chronicle (Levin), 7 February 1949, Page 2

Protest at Transfer of Civil Court

Following a protest recorded ati the recent meeting of the Oiski! Commercial -Association, when ob- . jeotion was voiced at- . the -rming whereby under the new Magistrates Court Act, 1948, civil cases are now h'eard at the Magistrate'-- Couit, Levin, -and not at Otaki, the following letter has been forwarded by the Mayor of Otaki, Mr. C. F. Atmore, to the Under-Secretary of the Justice Department, We.'lington: "The taking away of the Civil Jurisdiction from the Otaki Court has been most; unfavourafcly received. here, and I have received many proiests from all classes. "The Court iias been m exisoence for more than 50 years. It serves not only Otaki, with a population of 2250 persons, and which is mcreasing, but aiso a thickly populated rural and semi-urban district particuiarly to the south, and which is growing very rapidly. "The Magistrates' Court was intended to be a people'^ court &Ld to be rea-lily accessiole to the gr.neral public for disposing of civil claims, however small, and ihe abolition of the civil jurisdiction amounts -'to the depriving the people of their Court. I,-therefore, ask you if you will kindly receive- a representative deputation from Otaki in ohder that our viewpoint may be presented to you and with the object of restoring the jurisdiction.' Representations of tne Wellington District Law Society will also be in attendance.. I shall be most grateful if you will please flx a time convenient for yourself to receive the deputation. and notify me as soon as convenient."