THE REV. B. HUTSON.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 927, 21 September 1910, Page 5

THE REV. B. HUTSON.

This incident is clearly a following of tho precedent set. in the case previously mentioned. Those who make tlicsh requests do not in any way regard thom as involving impropriety. Tho idea in their minds is that impartiality. wiJl I'D secured by the. appointment of gontlemen holding the. high position of tho Superior judges; but it implies that tho person desiring such action has iio confidence in'the Dossible nominees of ib* .frovermnont. ■ One gruve. inconvenience that results from the praotico alludud to is Uiat judges acting as commissioners arn thereby precluded from performin:; judicial duties in any matter, civil or criminiil, which, they have already dealt within the former capacity. ,Indeed tliu position ,inay bo conceived of sets,' of Judges being so involved in their .duties as: commissioners in miscellaneous inquiries as to seriously prejudice the public: rights by limiting the number of judges available to carry ou the regular course of justice. Even now certain statutes throw on the judges many duties of an incongruous character; the performance of'which ought to be otherwise provided for. The practice to. which attention has been called is growing, and in the iiii terest of good government ought to be checked, by the strong voice of: public opinion. Nothing -should be permitted or leriuired which in. the slightest degree imperils the proper relations between the Executive Government and tho ' judges. 'Happily the law has made tho judges.of the Supreme Court independent of tho Government, and has hcclged them round with official ■ protection in the discharge of ..their , various, duties. - We like- to feel assured i of the fitness of our- judges for their high offices, and respect the dignity and impartiality . which characterise them; and; we do 1 not in any degree ■desire to see. them reduced to, the position. •>t State .judges in some , parts 'of the United State?, whose qualiflcations and: status are ' described in the pages of Bryee's "American" Commonwealth." - f I'he only protection of the subject in a democratic land 'like - New. Zealand .'lies in the independence 'and impartiality of the judges of the Supreme Court, in whom all ranks' of people .have coniidenc« that justice: is administered free : from, political or party, influenced of-any kind—not only wholly, pure,' but wholly unsuspected. —I am,.etc., " - ; ■'' • ... CONSERVATIVE. Wellington, : September 15,. 1910.:.

Sir,—l very' greatly regret; the strictures which; the Presbyterian -; minister of Brooklyn has '.made in -your columns ontlioßev. Mr. Chappie. ; I know. Taranaki and the whole circumstances - of Mr. Chappie's advent: thereto -as well as Mr: Hutson; and' I. say .positively that his statements■; are inaccurate;; and misleading. Mr. Chappie came, to Eltliam -perfectly : .proper; way, and .' with the cprdial approval of : the. Presbytery. The ,'fact that, he belonged to the' Church of England and Baptist Churches in no way . calls for . such remarks "as Mr.' llntson makes. Will he give a list to. your;;readers; of all the Presbyterian ministers':.'wh'o . belonged •.'.••to'' : other J de'noraihations. iand, will'he;'dare to : . thatvtheir, "consciences • are>; elastic" ? In reference: to himself, it was understood at; .the .time - that; .the Presbytery did. not ■ desire tliat he should "go to . Stratford, and: a divided' and split-up congregation •mors tban'justified, their feeling.: I.could say, a great deal more, but content myself by saying, that. Mr. llutson is ill advised ; in-writing ,of another as he has done.— I nm, etc., ;:':'v; r HEADER.