THE MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 44, 22 June 1915, Page 2

THE MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

{To The Editoe Stratford Pop.] Sir, —Who is the nameless champion who has taken up the cudgels in defence of the injustifiable le'lr.-.s of conducting the Stratford Magistrate’s Court? And what a piti-

ful defence. Let me analyse its hriefily. Hfe boasts that the Magistrate I conducts two court sittings on separate days per week in Hawera, one sitting per week at Eltham and Stratford respectively. It is also stated that the S.M. presides over the MagisCourt at Manaia and Patea presumably fortnightly at the two latter places. Prodigious! Surely this official is very much overworked. Sir, I feel absolutely confident that the actual aggregate length of court sittings per week woidd not be more than twenty-five hours, but let it be charitable and say thirty hours per week. This will easily include all the inquests and fires and sudden deaths referred to by the S.M.’s nameless Jchampion. Prodigious! Positive slavery! This, correspondent's defence of the legal gentlemen would make school children scream with laughter. He says the legal gentlemen do not appreciate or encourage the postponement of cases from week to week. Wonderful. I can imagine I hear you chuckle sir, isn’t it funny, furthermore, under this head the masked champion pays a pretty compliment to | the Stratford legal lights. He says they cannot concentrate their minds jupon and work up the law, more than one case per week. Isn’t he funny? If the legal men of Stratford could pick this gentleman, they would brain him for sure. However, sir, .1 am not going to pay any more attention to this scribbler’s remarks. I am satisfied, judging by the many expressions of approval of my letter, personally made to myself last week by leading residents of Stratford, that I have put my finger upon a system that is causing enormous, unnecessary and unjustifiable expense to the .Stratford public. If the public allow it to continue they deserve to-be iVrther victimised. Finally, sir, may 1 express my very great pleasure in the knowledge that the overworked andintensely popular Clerk of the Court is looking so fit and well despite my alleged “irony.” I am, etc. W. H. HAWKINS. (Portions of this letter are excised as quite heside the question.—ltd. “Stratford Post.”]