Last Greymouth Appearance Of Mr. A. A. McLachlan, S.M.

Grey River Argus, 7 September 1948, Page 2

Last Greymouth Appearance Of Mr. A. A. McLachlan, S.M.

A representative gathering of members of the legal, professiqn, Magistrate’s Court staff, and police and' citizens farwelled Mr A. A. McLachlan, S.M., and Mrs McLachlan, in the Greymouth Police Court yesterday, morning. Mr McLachlan, has been transferred to'the Magistrate’s Court Bpnch in Wellington, and made his final appearance in Greymouth yesterday. On behalf of the legal profession, Mr J. W. Hannan expressed the sincere regret of his colleagues and himself at Mr McLachlan’s departure after four years on the Bench in Greymouth. They had appreciated Mr McLachlan’s charitable manner in dealing, with unfortunates —people he had always given a chance to reform, ho said. Mr Hannan ddded that they also congratulated _Mr McLachlan upon his appointment to Wellington, and wished him good health and every success in his new sphere. Mr W. Meldrum, a former Magistrate and now president of the Justices Association, said Mr McLachlan had occupied the Bench with credit to himself and distinction to the Bench. He had, in addition to his wise decisions, shown a keen interest in the work of the Justices and had always been helpful to them. Inspector M. Angland, on behalf of the Police Department, said Mr McLachlan would distinguish himself ■n Wellington, just as he had on the West Coast. He had done his best for the community as a whole, and his good work would live in the memory of the West Coast people for many a day. Mr McLachlan’s experience, he/ added, had made him a successful man on the West Coast. He had been a good friend, an ex-, cellent Magistrate and had. helped him (Inspector Angland) with his advice. Elis departure would leave a big -gap, but at the same time they were .delighted at his appointment to a more important position. > Mr A. Fyfe, Clerk of Court, on behalf of the Court staff, said their relationship with Mr McLachlan had always been happy ones, and more than' any other judicial officer, he had captured the spirit of the West Coast. In Reply, Mr McLachlan said he departed with the easiest of feelings, after having mingled with the people of the West Coast for a goodly period. It was not the lure of more interesting work or people that had made him accept the transfer to Wellington. He gave credit to the West Coast for the experience he had gained and for having been able to rub shoulders with men who knew human' values. This experience, besides being great from the legal and practical point of view, had taught him a great deal about the law —and he had to thank the legal men of the West Coast for that. There was, also the humanising life he had found among them, which had been of the.utmost value. “It is all right to credit magistrates and judges with being merciful and kind, but that is gained by living among people of that type,” said Mr McLachlan. He added that they could find good in the worst person, and, if given a chance, they could make good. Mr McLachlan thanked the police and legal profession and the Court staff for their consideration, courtesy and friendliness during his four years on the Bench.