Appointment Of J.P. Causes Animated Discussion

Chronicle (Levin), 21 September 1949, Page 7

Appointment Of J.P. Causes Animated Discussion

Press Association)

(Per

WELLINGTON, Sept. 20. In 'the House of Eepresentatives tonight, Mr. J. K. McAlpine (Selwyn) speaking to the vote for the Department of Justice and Prisons, urgfed the appointment of more Justices of the Peaee in country districts. Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Otago Central), supporting him, said he knew instances of persons having to travel 40 miles to get a doeument witnessed by a Justice of the Peaee. ?s Mr. S. W. Smith (Hobson) asked toi information about the appointment of "a gentleman named Quinn" as a Justice of the Peaee (Mr. Quinn was *recently mentioned in the House as being a Communist). Mr. Smith asked if he were in faet a Communist, if the poliee made the usual inquiries before his appointment as a J.P., who nominated him and whether the poliee knew he was a Communist. Mr. Smith said he understood Mr. Quinn was.nomi - nated by the Petone braneh of the A.S.R.S. and later approved by thc Petone L.R.C. Mr. Smith said he woulc. like to see the appointment . of J.P. left to Magistrates instead of becoming, as it was at present, a matter oi political. patronage. Mr. Smith asked if Mr. Quinn had been reeommended by the member for Petone. Mr. Mpohan: No. Mr. Mason said the usual routine was followed in Mr. Quinn 's case. The poliee made inquiries and a Magistrate had completed the usual forrn before Mr. Quinn was appointed. The Minister said he did not know Mr. Arthur P. Quinn from a bar of soap but the file showed that the Magistrate had been satisfied Mr. Quinn was a lit per son for appointment and had been nominated by a reputable person. Mr. Holland: Was not the question asked as to whether he was a Com munist ? Mr. Mason said any Communist. would probably have been known to the poliee. It was unlilcely they would have omitted to inquire into that matter. Mr. Mason: I don't know if he was a Communist when he was appointed in 1946. He was rather young at 26 years but he was otherwise apparently a satisfactory nominee in every way. Mr. Smith: Would you have appointed him if you had known he was a Communist? Mr. Mason: I think the answer to that is obvious. Cominunists may be excellent persons in sonie respeets but there are some appointments in our judicial system for which they are not suitable. Mr. Mason, to further inquiries, said there was nothing on the file to shov the nomination was supported by any L.R.C. Mr. Mason said the new list of Justices was nearly ready for publieation and he would be pleased to consult witu Mr. McAlpine or other members to ensure there were no undue geographic gaps. Dr. A. M. Pinlay (North Shore), in a tribute to the high qualifications -qL. *New Zdlaltil).& ^Magistrates, said fhef country now had a Magistracv vvhich eompared well with that anywhere in the world and at any period of Our hisory. Litigants in Magistrate /Courts; realised that they were dealt-witn justly.