Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY DECEMBER 17,. 1889. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue II, 17 December 1889, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY DECEMBER 17,. 1889. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.

If tho progress of this coast wanted further evidence heyond what is already supplied hy the. increased exports and- improved railway returns, the proceedings at the Resident Magistrate's Court would further supply it. It is peculiar ; that the Government, though, assured', by tho revenue returns, of the increased business in the colony, are unable to grapple the fact that such activity must result in a similar way on the departments under their charge. We are bound to state that their want of action either implies an inability to understand the art of government, or else it is a wretched attempt at economy of the most false description. The utter disregard they show for the administration of the law has become, to the residents of this coast, most painfully clear. Three or four towns have made representations for further police protection without effect, and it is somewhat satisfactory to. know that by such refusals the Government themselves have been the losers This is of course not wholly satisfactory, as the rat© payers lose, when tho Government loses, but a direct ioss to them is better than a direct loss to a private person, and tends to bring the matter more prominently before them. We, by the .same want of appreciation by the Government, are brought face so face with a crying ovil, which should be resented most strongly, and thafr is the inability to obtain justice.

Our Ilesidout Magiatvatu doea all he can, and much more tkm\ ho should, yat -is unable U conlploto iiio busi ness -wlijcli i»s brought before him. Within this last month viro have been witness to tho grave har(l6n.r i >t> j that suitors have boon \mt to, by having to travel many miJO3 to find that their cases have to be adjourned from day to clay, and.f.hon" adjoiVraoft for a month. 'Hie loss of timo incurred is no trifle to the suitors, but besides vliieh they havo incui'rod a heavy monotary loss in -paying counsel, and a'so, when tho case i.s decided, get muiofc in costti for tke | extra days of attendance of witnesses. The .Court makes, what they have found, sufficient charges to litigants for the deciding of their disputes, aud the payment of these fees, becomes a portion, of the contract of the Government that time shall bo given by their official to, tlefcermine their cases The continual adjourn 1 monts are a decided breach of this contract, aud tends to cause little dependence to be placed on the administration of justice, which is only ou c step removed from causing the law to be talcen into the litigants own hands, thus causing confusion and l'iot. The Court days in this town afford some instances of the block, as on the 4th of tho month the Resident Magistrate had to sit till midnight, and then adjourned the other cases unheard to a special sitting on Friday last. On Friday he sat till eleven at night, and had to sit on Saturday till the traiu left at four in, the afternoon, -when all the cases were not finished. Two or threo other cases thaf; had boon adjourned from the fourth, were adjourned till next month, a»-d yet the Justices also s.it on Friday and Saturday and took some of tho cases This really means that the Resident Magistrate would have had to give | four days for hearing, and would i not havo got the cases all completed, yet tho Government fancy thoy make reasonable provision when., appoint ing one day a month for a Court in this town. " In Palmerston the same block is complained of, and also in other places, so that it becomes imperative that further assistance must be provided, and a rearrangement of districts made. At the sitting of the Court on Friday, the Magistrate said that he felt oulv responsible to attend to the civil business, and that the criminal business was more in the hands of the Justices. If he is coirocfc, we very much regrfit the fact, as we hold the criminal business is of more moment to tho public at large, as well as also involving tho liberty the subject, and becomes of more consequence to be heard by a trained mind, which, with all duo d> foreuco to the. holders of the appointments, is seldom found in a Justice' of tho • Peace., Tho sooner this belief is made a certainty one way or fcjio other the better. Wo will not pursue this question further, as we clo not wish to lead away from the subject of tho great necessity there exists for tho better provision in the administration of justice in Foxfcon and this Coast.