COURT FOR SHANNON

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2311, 4 August 1921, Page 3

COURT FOR SHANNON

“NOT SUFFICIENT BUSINESS.”

During his visit to Shannon on Saturday, Mr E. Newman, M.P., had his attention drawn to the need of regular sittings of the Magistrate’s Court in the town, the business at present being about divided between, the Levin and Palmerston North Courts, to the great expense and inconvenience of local residents. Mr Newman stated that lie had already-made representations about the matter, and had got a reply from the Acting-Minister of Justice, the Hon, Downie Stewart, who had replied that after inquiry into the question of a court for Shannon, it was found that ihere was not sufficient business to justify sittings I here. Mr Newman said lie was not going to let the matter rest there, bul would get in touch with t he Minuter for Justice, the Hon. Mr Lee, when he returned from Samoa, and lay the position before him. The Mayor (Mr Murdoch) said he believed that the amount of court business transacted by Shannon was greater than that at Levin. He instanced the large amount of Shannon business that was transacted at Levin court on Thursday, and said that it was not always expedient to wait for the Levin court, and cases had to he sent to Palmerston North. Was it right to expect people to go to the expense of having their cases heard outside the town. Many people would rather suffer a loss than go to this trouble.

Mr Newman asked what were the respective distances to the nearest centres which had sittings. The Mayor: Eleven miles to Levin, 22 miles to Palmerston North, and 11 to Fox ton.

Mr Newman said he would like the matter left in abeyance until he had an opportunity of seeing Ihe Minister.

Mr Murdoch pointed out that the court was for the purpose of serving all the people. If an area of live or six miles radius were taken from Shannon, he maintained that there was a bigger population than in the same radius about Levin. Mr Newman stated there was a great difficulty now in getting anything from the Government if it cost money. However, ho would see the Minister when he returned. Chronicle.