LAW-ABIDING

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 81, 29 December 1934, Page 12

LAW-ABIDING

Dominion’s Christmas Record

REPORT FROM POLICE Ministerial Tribute to Citizens A Minister of the Crown, who was on duty at Parliament House yesterday, smilingly recalled the reply of a witty Australian statesman to a roundsman: “Sorry, there is nothing to-day that is tit for publication 1” This Ministerial geniality illustrated the mood of the New Zealand Government just now and the routine nature of administration. Everything is going forward smoothly, and there is nothing really about which it is politic to maintain diplomatic secrecy. Indeed, given more generous rain on a parched countryside, also better prices for wool and butter, and the Dominion might well carry far into the New Year the buoyant trade and cheerful optimism that marked Christmastide.

After q few days in the Orua electorate among friends, the Hou. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Justice and Defence, returned to Wellington on Thursday, afternoon in order to deal with several departmental questions before leaving last evening for his home in Feilding until next Thursday.

Perhaps the most pleasing matters in the Minister’s correspondence were , reports from officers of the Police Department all over the Dominion showing that the people, are entitled to be given a foremost place in the world as a law-abiding community. "The best Christmas for a long time,” epitomises the meagre returns of crime and even minor offences throughout tlie country. There was practically no unseemly conduct during the holidays, and the police have had no difficulty at all in maintaining law and order. This also has been the outstanding feature of police experience in connection with the Royal tour. Great crowds everywhere have greeted the Duke of Gloucester and in every instance their conduct has been admirable. There has been no trouble of any kind at ail. In a special report to the Minister, the Commissioner of Police has emphasised this phase of the Duke’s, popular tour. Moreover, there has been manifested everywhere a good feeling between the public and the police. From a general point of view, the Dominion is remarkably free of serious crime and vicious offences. The prison population is decreasing steadily every month; With the departure of a batch of released prisoners early in the New Year one prison camp virtually will be deserted. Four Hundred Want to be J.P.’s. One of the special matters now receiving the close attention of the Minister is the list of appointments to be made "soon under the Justices of the Peace Act. Since it is an unwritten law in New Zealand that no J.P.’s may be appointed while Parliament is in session, it has become customary to revise the existing list toward the end of each year and make arrangements for additional appointments. The Minister and his departmental officers at present are conning no fewer than 400 recommendations for appointment as Justices of the Peace from all parts of the Dominion. Much correspondence is involved, as each recommendation is accompanied by what may lie termed biographical details and references as to personal integrity and capacity for service as a J.P., which is much more responsible than many people seem to fancy. It is expected that the final list of proposed appointments will be ready for the consideration and approval of Cabinet at its first meeting in the New Year. For some time past, the Department of Justice has given thought to the need of a complete register of Justices of the Peace, but compilation involves considerable difficulty, as there are many changes each year, and not a few deaths, this being due to the fact, that, generally, men of mature experience and advanced age fire selected for the duties involved. It is planned to prepare a register, tlie existing list being almost antiquated. Prosperity of Railways. It was mentioned by a railways official yesterday that the C’hristnui.stide prosperity experienced by flic department in the Wellington district wns the general experience throughout the Dominion. Auckland also had a marked increase in all kinds of traffic, while improvement in other North Island districts, though less pronounced, was substantial. Railway passenger traffic throughout tlie South Island was heavy, more people than usual “going by rail” for their holidays. Though the appreciable gain in railway business can be attributed partly to tlie revival of optimism and definitely better times with a freer circulation of money, it is claimed that a great deal of the transport recovery enjoyed this year by the Railways Department has been due to its sustained policy of active advertising. Clearly, it pays to let the ‘people know and to keen on reminding them that efficient service is available i at n reasonable price.