THE PATEA MAIL. Published Wednesdays and Saturdays SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 1875.

Patea Mail, Volume 1, Issue 22, 26 June 1875, Page 2

THE PATEA MAIL. Published Wednesdays and Saturdays SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 1875.

Ouu Wairoa friends appear to have inaugurated a new system of nominating gentlemen for judicial appointments, and we cannot too severely condemn the mode under which they desire the selection to be made. An irresistible smile passed over our countenance when we read that a meeting had been called, for the purpose of: recommending gentlemen to Major Turner, as suitable candidates, to fill the post of J.P.’s, but we cannot for one moment believe that those persons who took part in the proceedings, were in earnest in advocating such an objectionable mode of conferring Her Majesty’s Commission of Peace upon individuals, as must have been aware that no Minister of Justice would have been simple enough to have allowed any such procedure to influence his choice. If such responsible appointments wore to be conferred after the fashion indicated by the Wairoa meeting, nothing could be easier for a gushing aspirant for magisterial honours than to stuff the meeting with a lot of pliant tools willing to testify, “ by show of hands,” to the fitness, independence, and respectoKJMty of the candidate nmnospd for magisterial honours, and thus gain an unmistakeable expression of opinion in favour of his superior fitness to discharge the importune and responsible duties in connection with the administration of justice. We are quite prepared to admit the necessity for the appointment of J.P.’s for the several districts intervening between Hawera and Waitotara, as their want must prove of serious inconvenience and expense to persons seeking recourse to the law for the recovery of petty debts, or the arbitration of assault and other cases, but we must protest against any appointment being influenced by counterfeit popular action. The course usually adopted is an appeal to the Superintendent, requesting that gentleman to apply to the Minister of Justice to gazette some responsible and fitting gentleman residing in or near the district as a J.P. The request, if considered reasonable, is forwarded to the Minister for Juftice, with a recommendation in favour of some gentleman considered qualified to act in the capacity above mentioned. The Resident Magistrate in charge of the district is also consulted as to the necessity of such appointment and to testify to the suitableness of the gentleman recommended, so from these facts it will be seen that the farcical proceedings enacted at Wairoa goes for nothing in support of the choice. As Major Turner is, no doubt, thoroughly conversant with the whole matter, we have not the slightest doubt but that gentleman will not be slow in his endeavours to suppress such an unseemly and disgraceful scramble for an office which should only be filled by gentlemen of independence and intelligence. We are informed upon reliable authority that one of the gentlemen nominated by the Wairoa meeting actually went round from house to house begging support, and that the meeting supporting his nomination consisted of boys and persons having no direct interest in the district, and consequently were incapable of exercising judicious discrimination. If Justices were to be appointed on the same principle as members of Road Boards, or other legislate bodies, there would be an end to all impartial administration of justice, and our Benches would be occupied by men who dare not venture to give adverse decisions against their supporters, for fear of losing their title of distinction. However, we are proud to say that the liberty - of the press and the purity of justice still remain untrammelled, and are upheld by every true Briton.

The Patea Educational Board have adopted a parsimonious and mischevious policy in letting- contracts for the execution of public works, without first securing the widest possible publicity for the announcement inviting tenders for the performance of the work. It is unreasonable to expect that fair and legitimate competition can be secured when publicity to the tender is suppressed, and the result is that the Board runs the risk of having to pay in excess of the value of the work required. The Board recently decided that the Hawera School Reserve should be fenced in, and accordingly its Secretary—wc presume with instructions from the Board —posted a written notice in Mr Muir’s shop window, inviting tenders for the work. We have not yet learnt the effect of this primitive method of advertising, but shall not be surprised to learn “ that owing to the paucity of tenders received, and the high prices tendered at,” fresh tenders have been imdted. We question if any individual member of the Board would have thus acted in his private capacity, if he desired to let a contract by public tender ; and why a body of men, holding responsible positions in our midst, and possessing intelligence’and business tact, should have been so stupid as to have committed this “ penny wise and pound foolish policy,” we are at a loss to conceive. We do not hesitate to say that the paltry few shillings saved by the Board by not advertising the usual notice will be attended with several pounds loss to the funds the Board are entrusted by the ratepayers to judiciously disburse in the cause of education. It may appear to our readers that w» are actuated by selfish motives in our criticism on the Board’s action in this particular matter, but the “ wrong that needs resistance” requires no special pleading to a discriminating public.