Council Discusses Removal Of Civil Court

Chronicle (Levin), 18 March 1949, Page 2

Council Discusses Removal Of Civil Court

The Minister of Justice, Mr. Mason, has decided that the -arrangements for the removal of civil jurisdiction from the Magis^rates' Court, Otaki, are to stand in the meantime. This was revealed at Wednesday 's meeting of the Otaki Borough Council when a communication \yas received from the Under-Secretary to the Minis'ter. The council decided 'to make a further protest to the department. The matter ^arose when the Mayor, Mr. C. F' Atmore, reportei on the result of a 'deputation to the Under-Secretary. He read the following letter from him: "Witi reference to your telegrams and tD •the personal representations made by yourself and a deputation cf representative citizens of Otaki, I have to advise that the question of restoring full civil jurisdiction to the Otaki Court has been carefully reconsidered. The substance of your submissions and the notes of the 'discussions when the deputation waited upon me have also been placed before the Minister, who directs me to advise you that in his opinion the change in the status of .the' Otaki- Court will not occasion the inconvenience you apprehend. "When one bears in mind thst under the new Act the magistrate can fix the hearing at any place to suit the convenience of parties, there sh'ould actually te little to complain about. Further, the facilities now provided-for dea-ing iWith undefended matters, particularly "the simplifled debt recovery procedure, should more than offsct any disadvantage. The Minister proposes to give the present arrangement a trial for six months and should this reveal any' seriohs inconvenience to the people !of Otaki the decision will be reviewed." Commenting, the Mayor said that a teiegram ha-d been forworded to the department, prolesting again't the delay that had occurred in advising the result of the deputation's visit. The deputation had been most representative and the outcome was considered 'disappointing. Counci'lors spoke in support of the view that mueh inconveniec.e and expenSe to ratepayers would be incurred by the change, and it was agreed that other organisations now be asked to support a deputation to the Minister in a further protest.