THE LYTTELTON RESIDENT MAGISTRACY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2196, 10 March 1881, Page 3

THE LYTTELTON RESIDENT MAGISTRACY.

To the Editor of the Globe. Sib,—l am Bure the public generally fully endorse tho opinions expressed in your correspondent "Consistency's" letter regarding the manner in which the Government have dealt with the Resident Magistracy of Lyttelton. An entire absence of broad principle is shown in the granting of a salary to an officer whom the Government have but recently given a life retiring allowance to. It may be argued that the Civil Service Act contemplates suoh a course. Well, all I can say is that the sooner such a provision is repealed the better; the publio certainly will not be satisfied till it is. The country already groans at having to pay pensions, but if, in addition, re-appoint-ments are forced by a government of exigencies upon their superannuated or retired officers, with a new salary—say, for the sake of argument, of a £IOO a year—the publio must feel that in this matter of pensions there is no finality. If this practice is to be followed in one case, why not in all ? Why should not Judge Gresson, for instance, be recalled into active service, say at £3OOO a year, and Judge Ward might be dispensed with as Judge Harvey recently was, and economy might thus bo praotised to tho tune of some £7OO per annum. The thing is palpably too absurd and too monstrous ; but this serves to show the utter impropriety of such a course. The late Resident Magistrate for Lyttolton (Mr Beswick), who, by the way, has the name of being a very good magistrate, was paid a not sure that thisjbaadsotns sum (!) was not furthor reduced by the 10 per cent. Now, under the existing arrangement, it is understood that the present Resident Magistrate at Lyttelton is to resume duty, and is to receive £IOO a year, in addition to his pension, and is to have jurisdiction up to £2O only; and the Christchuroh Resident Magistrate is to pay periodical visits to Lyttelton to take special cases, and of course he will not be entitled to any travelling expenses for this. Will the Government get another R.M. for Lyttelton at £IOO a year ? But doubtless they think " sufficient is the day for the evil thereof." The thing speaks for itself. It is not true economy, but cheap justice—a rule of three, in faot. If a man is paid £IOO a year, how high a jurisdiction is he to have ? Answer—£2o! ! ! And he is to have another R.M. to shepherd him at that. True economy, indeed, and worthy of the present Government. The fact really is, that a Resident Magistrate is not required specially for Lyttelton. The Government listened to the clamour of a few in re-appointing one, but the duty ought to be taken in conjunction with that of some other district, suoh as Loeston or Kaiapoi. We already know that the Christchuroh R.M. has more work than he can do, as instanced by his being assisted by a rota of justices of the peace, but how long will this arrangement last ? How, then, is he to take Lyttelton every week, even if it were recessary? or are the Government going in for another line of economy, namely, of having two Ronident Magistrates for Christchuroh — Mr Mellish and Mr Wood ? The ways of the Government are indeed inscrutable. Yours, &0., ELECTOR. May Bth, 1381.