OUR COURTS.

Evening Star, Issue 3526, 11 June 1874, Page 3

OUR COURTS.

To the Editor ., Sir, — The attention which has lately been called by Mr Bathgate to the late hours to which the Magistrate’s Court has been compelled to sit, is a sure sign the Court has now too much business to get through. During the last tew months the business of the Court—both criminal and civil—has greatly increased, consequent no doubt in a great measure upon the increased number of the population, and principally in consequence of the introduction of the class of people known as the “notorious Asiatics.” The result of this increase in the business is that ihe Magistrate has now more work than ht can fairly get through, and that if justice is expected to be done, help is urgently required. borne patriot c people appear to think that the Justices of the Peace should come to the rescue and help Mr Bathgate through with the business by dispensing the criminal portion of it. It may be all very well talking about the J.P.’s sitting on the Bsncb, out it is unwise, and moreover unfair,'to ask unpaid men to do our magisterial work, it uas been suggested that a second magistrate hould be appointed ; but, again, it would be unwise to put the country to such an exijense—e>pecially as it is not likely there 'vould be sufficient work for another. To get over the difficulty the better way would perhaps be to resort to the Mayor’s—otherwise known as the City Police-Court, some months ago it was amalgamated with the Resident Magistrate’s Court, because at that time it was supposed the Magistrate ■could easily overcome the business oi both. Since then, however, the business has greatly increased, from the causes 1 have already mentioned, Such being the case, then, would it not meet the present difficulty if the City Police Court was again established ? It would, of course, be presided over by the Mayor of the City, as formerly. He is paid, so that it could not be objected that work was being inflicted upon an unpaid person, as would be the case in the event of J.P.’s being compelled to sit. The Lord Mayor of London, and other minor mayors throughout the world, are in the custom of dispensing justice of this description, and why should our civic head be relieved from it ? He is immediately upon election invested with the title of J.P., which I presume is a sign it is intended that he should dispense justice if he is called upon during his term of office. I would therefore suggest that, with a view of relieving the Magistrate of the criminal portion of the business, the Mayor’s Court be again opened.—l am, &c., Enquirer.