Justices of Peace Meet in Conference

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 309, 21 March 1928, Page 13

Justices of Peace Meet in Conference

PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS SERVICES SHOULD BE USED MORE Regret that in view of the valuable time of magistrates being taken up in dealing with minor offences the services of justices of the peace were not more readily availed of, was expressed by Mr. H. Herbert Smith, president of the Federated Justices’ Association, at the annual conference which was commenced this morning. TN moving the adoption of the annual report, Mr. Smith voiced his appreciation of the good work done by the respective associations in complying with the conditions of the constitution by becoming incorporated bodies. The necessary number of associations had joined up; and the federation had now been able to put in hand the necessary steiis to complete the process of incorporation. At .present there were eight associations, together with several branches, throughout the Dominion, and the membership, which was 930 in 1924, had risen to 1,733 at December 31 last. Inasmuch as there were nearly G.OOO justices on the official roll, he considered this increase, however creditable, still left' room for improvement, and he hoped that a big endeavour would be made during the year by all associations to still increase the membership. The president paid a tribute to the excellent work being done by probation officers, and also expressed his personal thanks to Mr. A. J. Stratford, vice-president, and Mr. I. Salek, registrar, for the manner in which they had parried out their duties during the year.