MINISTER OF JUSTICE VISITS FOXTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3789, 8 May 1928, Page 2

MINISTER OF JUSTICE VISITS FOXTON.

RECEIVES REPRESENTATIVE -DEPUTATION. '

REQUEST FOR NEW COURT HOUSE. MINISTER GIVES FAVOURABLE REPLY. For many years the old courthouse has been an eye-sore to ' Foxton’s main thoroughfare—and a link with the past. > For years past the Justice Department has 'been with requests to provide a modern structure, but nothing has been done. The local Chamber of Commerce took up the agitation some eighteen months ago and elicited a promise from the Minister that he would visit Foxton and inspect the building. He redeemed that promise to-day and in company with Mr. J. Linklater met a large and representative deputation within the Avails of thejancient edifice. The Minister Avas ushered to a seat on the Bench in company Avith Messrs J. Linklater, M.P., and F. Robinson, the senior J.P., while the deputation consisting of Messrs J. K. HornbloAv (President), W, Trueman, D. Christie, F. A. Mason, F. C. Raikes, I. Corn, G. F. Smith, R. N. Speirs, R. Rangiheuea, A. E. Scott, D. R. Barron and R. Hornblow' (secretary),'representing the Chamber of Coiinnerce and Mr. A. Fraser J.P., Mr. M. E. Pcrreau (Mayor), and Constables R. Chven and J. Bell iceupied the floor of the court.

“You haA 7 e to thank Constable OAven,” said a speaker at this morning’s deputation to the Minister of Justice (Hon. F. J. Rolleston), “for having saved this antien't structure from destruction by lire, Avhen the ToAvn Hall Avas destroyed.” “The constable with a small squirt, Avorked valiantly and successfully in saving the building from the firey elements. His services on that occasion, concluded the speaker, “dil not meet with any suitable recognition ' from the' toAvnspeople.”

The Mayor (Mr. M. E; Perreau), extended a cordial welcome to the Minister on behalf of the people of Foxton. The invitation to the Minister to visit Foxton had come from • the local Chamber of Commerce, which body was doing very good work. He felt sure the Minister would give earnest consideration to the Chamber’s request for a new courthouse and he referred to the delapidated state of the existing building in contrast to the many recent improvements effected locally. Foxton was a good centre and somewhat isolated. As a result, Court business extended over a very wide area. Mr. Perreau jocularly referred to the revenue derived by the Justice Department from the whitebait creek eases at the beach and other sources locally. The work done in the local courthouse warranted a much better building than the present structure, he said. Mr. J. Linklater, M.P., said this was the Minister’s first visit to Foxton and he was pleasant to have the opportunity of welcoming him to the Manawatu. He referred to ‘the great age, and the very small initial cost of the erection of the structure and felt sure that the Minister would agree that the building looked its age (laughter). The people of Foxton and district were very law-abiding, but when they did have occasion to visit the courthouse they wanted to feel safe while in the building (laughter). The Minister no doubt noticed that the courthouse shook to its very foundation when he entered it. He felt sure he would give the request his earnest and ‘ practical support. Mr. J. K. Hornblow (President of the Foxton of Commerce), extended a welcome to the 'Minister from that 'body and outlined its request for a new courthouse. A' building in keeping with the dignity of the Justice Department was badly needed in Foxton, and to this end the Chamber had been agitating for some time past. The initial move, however, was niade by the Borough Council some 20 years ago. 'From that, the Minister would see tiie people of Foxton had been long suffering. A ’■glance through the Minister’s file wonfd reveal the large number of applications made for a new courthouse during that long period. The building itself, was either G 1 or 62 years old, and the' - speaker referred to Mr. Francis Robinson’s early association with it as a juryman over 60 years ago. The land had not cost the Department one penny, having been given by the late and highly respected Chief Ihakara Tukumaru, while the building had cost between £l5O and £2OO. Undoubtedly it had been well constructed and it could not be denied that there was a good deal of sound timber in parts of the structure, but it was now in a very delapidated state and falling to pieces. The people of Foxton and district were law-abiding and in this connection the speaker paid a high tribute to the excellent police officers in charge. Apart from court work, however, the building was used as a police station, and Foxton being the centre of the electoral district, there was a tremendous amount of work carried on there in compiling statistics, etc. In addition, Foxton was the centre for the Manawatu Licensing district and the committee met there regularly while there was quite an amount of other work carried on

there. The building was most inconvenient for such work, and the shelving, etc., was worm-eaten. The district S.M., Mr. J. L. Stout, had given his opinion that the time had arrived when the building should be demolished and a new one erected in keeping with the importance of the Justice Department. Mr. Hornblow also referred to the good work done by the local Beautifying Society in beautifying the courthouse corner, which, howeber, only accentuated the unlovliness of the structure. The people of Foxton had been very patient, and he hoped that now the Minister had inspected the building he would also be of the opinion that the time had arrived when the Chamber’s request should be acceded to and a new courthouse be erected to meet the requirements of the citizens and in keeping with tho dignity of the Justice Department. Mr. A. Fraser, on behalf of the local Justices of the Peace/ endorsed the previous speakers remarks, and said the need for a better courthouse was very urgent. The Minister in thanking the speakers for their welcome, said this was his first visit to Foxton, and he was very favourably impressed with the attractiveness and prettiness of the town. His visit had been made under very happy circumstances and in delightful weather. He felt he owed the people of Foxton an apology as it was a year or eighteen months ago since Mr. Linklater had pressed the claims of Foxton for a new courthouse on him, and he had kept reminding him of them ever since and made many endeavours to get him to redeem his promise to the Chamber of Commerce to visit Foxton. Various matters, however, had made it impossible for him to visit Foxton before this. He thought it most necessary to personally inspect buildings where claims were made for more up-to-date structures, and he would not repeat his remarks to Mr. Linklater when he first saw the local courthouse (laughter). He had listened to the various arguments put forth for a new building, and it was very obvious that-a new building was required. No reasonable man could dispute that fact, but the trouble was that claims were being made all over the Dominion for new of all kinds, and of late the Education Department seemed to be getting the better of the deal as far as he could see, and the Justice Department was taking second place. It did not matter how much ht> wanted to erect new buildings he wa syoverned by the finance at his disposal. However, he hoped to be able to obtain a little more money from the Finance Minister in the near future, and now that he had seen this particular building he was quite willing to , press its claim for consideration. This, however, did not mean that the work of erecting a new courthouse would be carried out this year, because the Department was already committed to the expenditure of large sums in other places, some even worse off than Foxton. Foxton, ■ however, came very high on the list of claims. The existing building did not at all harmonise with the beauty of the town, and he would do all he could to have a new building erected, but that, of course, depended on obtaining the necessary money from the Minister of Finance. They could rest assured however, that he would do his best for them in the matter, and he complimented them on their patience. He had been interested to learn that the existing structure had’cost only £2OO, which fact was a strong argument in Foxton’s favour. He was pleased to meet the deputation and he would carry away with him very pleasant recollections of Foxton. One member of the deputation had mentioned that there was not a large list at- local court sittings, but this was not a necessary argument for a new building. The fewer cases there were the better it was for the district, but in any case, Justice should be decently housed. He realised that other work besides that of the Justice Department was carried out in the courthouse which demanded better accommodation, and he was willing to admit that the deputation had made out a good ease. He hoped . that they would now exhibit patience until a new building was erected. The Department had intended spenling £SO or £OO in renovating the building some twelve months ago, but the Chamber of Commerce had made such a strong protest that the work had been held up. He did not think that anything should now be done until a new building was erected.

Mr. F. A. Mason proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Minister. The Minister then thoroughly inspected the building, after which he was entertained to morning tea at Walls.