SATURDAY, MAY 19, 1894. justices of the Peace.

Manawatu Herald, 19 May 1894, Page 2

SATURDAY, MAY 19, 1894. j ustices of the Peace.

.._ -♦- " The osce .OfrJustice of the. Peace is, in^^gland*. one; of considerably Wntiquijty^nd .i\pnpur^..'...sq,ya fcbe JaTe "Judge . joidri^drrin : his- \y6rfc ; '«, J4is|ice 'bf'ihe'V.l^aQe.'.'^an'a, he 'cbrifciaues, '" frbYn" the * multiplication! >pf .' the duties attached to it by a long series of statiroFy.renaciiriaents, it has become, both in England and in ber o.q^if>|i and inigoyMnce, requiring for the due discbYifS&f 3b6) »ncj^BnMa Jiarge amount -ollhtelligence, patience, and discretion^ftnd" : a; general acquaint-: -an.cc with' ap^e.^extefeive body of the lawV' : 'Agafn he states "In England ffie Juafcices ai^ selected fr^';thfe^D^C^c(f jf thfej^)^^; a&danldldrptimeaithau; uuiufcei Waa limited By Statute ; for through the ambition of many, as Lord Bacon says, 'it wa'i accounted a credit to be burthened with that authority.' If this well : kn6wn Judge and author Had liveel to', the pVesent day he would have been even more particular in emphasizing what Justices are supposed^fco be from an English point of view to that looked at from a New Zealand point of view, and by the member^of the present ]\|inistry. The appointments made by the Government to 'this high office have not, in many cases, been made. in keeping^with the principles we, have mentioned, ahii some further-; appointments siiggestsd "seem to have been proposed simply on the plan of showing the power and might the Government posaes3 being- able to ride Yough' shod over all'- traditions, precedents and wisdom. " Justice " js derived from the word "just."

•The quality of being just* and of just conduct. Practical conformity to th;o laws and principles of right dealing. " Justice is," says Hamilton, " the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been, and ever will be pursue!, until it be obtained or until liberty -be lost in pursuit." Justice can hardly be expected to be properly administered if the administrators are not selected for their fitness to exercise it, and we may, in illustration refer to Mr Stead's opinion on the Americans dwelling in Chicago. There justice is administered much after the fashion the Government seem desirous of introducing here. Justice is again mentioned as " agreeableness to right " and as " moral soundness" and as " coaformity to truth," and thus necessitates the persons nominated for such office to bear this character. All these remarks are generally well known and believed in, but in the face of it we notice appointments made and proposed which come not anywhere within the meaning. It is no light matter when the administration of the law is permitted to be made a political question, more especially when the fitness of the candidate is in no way examined. We have no-objection to the appointment of fit persons of any political party to the office of Justice of the Peace,' all we ask, and assert that the people, should demand, is to see' that the leadng points of Judge Johnston'.s suggestions should be paid attention to.