The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 1878.

Dunstan Times, Issue 843, 14 June 1878, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 1878.

Beneath the rule of vien entirely just the pen is mightier than the sword,

“ I have mis-uscd the King’s press damnably,” quoth old Jack Falstaff. Had that pot-valiant knight lived in these latter days he -would probably have varied the text of his discourse, and die telegraph, rather than the press, would have borne the burden of attack. Of late, so mis-used has the telegraph been that it has passed into a proverb to doubt the half of all that appears in the ordinary columns of the pre«s, and all that appears in the telegraphic columns. Therefore it is that in our subsequent remarks we must be understood as speaking of something which, because it has been disseminated by the Telegraphic Press Agency, is probably untrue. The special subject which has called forth these remarks is a telegram professing to reveal the intentions of the Government in regard to the paid magistracy. If we are to believe the minions of the Press Agency the Government has resolved to dismiss all paid magistrates who are not “ lawyers,” and to appoint “ lawyers” in their stead. We take leave to disbelieve this statement in its present crude form. That Sir George Grey is the most despotical of democrats is a patent fact. That ho is associated with more than one or two of the most eccentric political theorists is no secret. But we refuse to believe that there can be found in i New Zealand seven politicians—not to say statesmen—of such inferior intelligence as the telegram in question would denote Sir George and liis colleagues to be. We quite admit that the honorary magistracy should be compelled to render an account of the services which they perform in return for their justiciary honours. Sandy M'Lean and Phelim O’Connor and John Smith wore not elevated to the magisterial bench simply for the sake enabling those worthy but sadly uneducated gentlemen to astound their friends at home by displaying their honours as J P.’s, which in many instances would more truthfully be translated “Judges of Pigs” than anything else. And every J P. who fails to attend to Hs duties should have his name erased from the Rolls. But they cannot, in Gauntry Districts, hike the place'of the paid Magistracy; although in large towns, such as Dunedin or Christchurch they may, and will probably do so. Neither can a haif-fledged, unpractised, legal practitioner do so—and it is hopeless to expect any practised lawyer to perform the duties for anything like the trumpery payment at present doled forth to of the incumbents of the Country benches. If, then, the teleeram alluded to correctly expounds the intentions of the Government, we may look forward to a period of mis-rule resulting from the incapacity of the young persons who are to supplant (not to succeed, for they will not lie a success) the gentlemen who now act as Resident Magistrates. Once more we say we will not discredit the Government by believing the telegram. Is experience to be taken for nothing. Taking our legal friends at their own valuation, common law is common sense. Who is move likely to possess most of the latter commodity, and consequently the best able to administer the former than the practised and mature men who now occupy the position of magistrates on tlic Gold-fields 1 Docs any sane man suppose for an instant that our Simpsons and Robinsons and Carews and Woods are less capable—nay ! that they arc not more capable of dispensing law and justice than the

unpractised and inexperienced fledglings of Dunedin back-attics—euphe-mistically called “ Chambers?” And beyond and above all other considerations there is this to be remembered Is the convenience of the people to be disregarded. Will they, heavily-tax-ed as they are, consent to forego the privileges and pleasures of litigation ■when and where they please in order that some callow youngster, of whom the fates and his father have made that fearful and wonderful being called a “ lawyer may air his dignity on the bench. Nay ! We decline to believe such absurdities. We have read “ Erewhon ” and “ Gulliver’s Travels” and DuJChaillon’s wonderful stories, and the “ Innocents Abroad ’’ and we would rrther believe in them all without reservation, than believe that the Government of New Zealand were so utterly demented as to dismiss old, tried, trusty, and faithful servants for the purpose of satisfying a ridiculous crotchet wherein nobody believes except the unemployed and useless dregs of the legal fraternity.