MR. M'CARTHY, S.M.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 143, 6 March 1918, Page 6

MR. M'CARTHY, S.M.

♦ TRIBUTES FROM THE CITY COUNCIL. The following resolution, was adopted by the City Council last evening:— "That the council express the opinion that the recent improvement in the observance of traffic by-laws and the reduction, in tho number of tramway accidents is largely due to the manner in which Mr. M'Carthy. S.M., has- administered the law, and expresses disapproval of any attempt'to move him from the Wellington district, for the reason that the change would not be in the best interests. of the general public."

Councillor W. H. P. Barber (as Acting-Mayor) said it bad come to their knowledge that it was proposed to remove Mr. M'Carthy from the Bench in Wellington, and in view of the admirable manner in which he had administered the by-laws, he asked the council to express their disapproval of the action.

Councillor J. E. Fitzgorald took exception to the motion, which he said was'outside, the province of the City Council. It was a matter for the National Government, and' jwas entirely political.

Councillor R. A. Wright said that the committee was to he congratulated on the motion. If the first part of the motion was correct, he did not think there was anyone who could take exception to the sentiments expressed in, the motion.

Councillor A. R. Atkinson also thought that the motion was a very proper one.

Councillor L. M'Kenzie referred to the assistance Mr. M'Carthy had given his committee in regard to the wandering cattle nuisance.

Councillor M. IV Luckio said that they were'practically asking the Ministers to interfere with a matter of which they were not fully cognisant. All they knew as a council was that it was known that Mr. M'Carthy had imposed some exemplary lines for breaches of the by-laws, and thereby had increased tue revenue, but ihey did not know any of iho iaots on the other side of tlie matter. Hβ reminded the council that i\lr. M'Carthy was only a temporary Magistrate in Wellington. He was inclined to agree with Uouncillor Fitzgerald that, on principle, thuy should omit the last part of the motion. He would move that all words after the words "the law" be deleted.

Councillor W. J. Thompson seconded the amendment.

Counciilor A. Veitch said that it was as fair to say that they approved of Mr. M'Carthy as for others to say they disapproved of him. Ho objected to any orVthe words in'the motion being excised.

Councillor Barber objected to Councillor Luckie's reference) to the n'lianciai aspuct of the matter. Tho amendment was lost, and the motion was carried.

Later in the evening the Outlying Districts .Committee, in its report, said :—

"The committee desired to mark their satisfaction at the manner in which Mr. M'Oarthy, Stipendiary Magistrate, has dealt with wandering cattle cases during his ocoityancy of the bench in Wellington, the result being thai complaints of cattle wandering are now reduced'to practically a minimum, owing to the salutary fines inflicted on offenders."

The above, clause received the discussion as to whether the council was strictly within its rights in making special reference to Mr. M'Carthy. Councillor Fitzgerald, who said that if it came to a point, ho favoured tho retention of Mr. M'Carthy in Wellington, said that they should not overlook the fact that there were other Magistrates who had done thoir duty. He moved to strike out tho name of Mr. M'Carthy and substitute therefor the words "the Stipendiary Magistrates," hut finding no seconder his amendment lapsed.

The Mayor (Mr. Luke), who had been away during the greater part of tho earlier discussion, paid a tributo to tho honesty and faithfulness with which Mr. M'Carthy had-done his duty and stimulated the morality of the community in his official capacity. Ho said that it was well known that there was a move to have Mr. M'Carthy re-, movod from Wellington, and considered it fitting that they should protest against it. He had the very highest opinion of Mr. M'Carthy and 'wished to say so as Chief Magistrate of the city on the civil side.