Chairman of Licensing Committees.

Manawatu Herald, 17 August 1895, Page 3

Chairman of Licensing Committees.

Shortly ago attention was called to a recent Bankruptcy case in Victoria where a bankrupt who had formerly held ministerial rank and still had powerful political friends, applied for his discharge. The Court to which application was made* was an inferior court, and the Judge held his position subject to dismissal or reduction of salary. In fact the position he held was similar to that held in New Zealand by Native Land Court Judges, District Court Judges and Stipendiary Magistrates, who have no certain tenure of office, and if they offend ministers may find themselves dismissed without any redress. The Victorian Judge, it will be remembered, stated that the bankrupt was supported by strong political influence, that an affidavit had been made in his favour by a prominent member of the Upper House, and that the bankrupt Was at one time head of the Judicial Department and might be head of it again, and he urged that it would be more satisfactory if the application for discharge were made to a Judge of the Supreme Court, who could act without fear of consequences. The Judge refused the application for discharge. Im* mediately after, an announcement was published that the Government intended to cut down the salaries of the Judges. In the new Licanping Bill, Stipendary Magistrates still remain Chairman of Licensing Committees. In order that they may act as chairman without fear of consequences, it is imperative that they should hold office during good conduct, and not be liable to dismissal at the word of a minister, whom or whose political supporters they may have offended by their conduct as Chairman of the Licensing Committee. We trust our member, Mr J. G. Wilson, will give attention to this point, and urge its importance.