RELIEVING MAGISTRATES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 357, 7 April 1910, Page 5

RELIEVING MAGISTRATES

PROTEST FROM THE BAR. MR. GREENFIELD TAKES ADVICE. By Telegraph.—Pr»3< A»o*ftMen. Eltham, Last Night. Mr. A. Greenfield, long since retired, and •f very mature age, is acting as relieving magistrate pending the return of Mr. Kenrick, S.M., who is absent on sick leave. In Court to-day, Mr. G. P. Wake, addressing his Worship, said he quite realised 'that the presence on the Bench of a gentleman of his Worship's age must entail a good deal of sacrifice on his part. With all due respect, Mr. Wake wished to say he did not think a gentleman of Mr. Greenfield's age should be asked to discharge the important duties appertaining to magisterial office. He felt himself in an awkward position, but was going to ask that all contested cases be allowed to stand over until Mr. Ken rick's return. He made these remarks only from the point of view of public interest. He asked his Worship to listen to his protest and allow the cases to stand over until Mr. Kenrick's return.

'. All the contested eases, .with the exception of one, were adjourned, and the congestion in Court business is as bad as ever. One case has been hung up since December, others have been partly heard by other magistrates, and no progress is being made. All the Courts in this district are in the same condition. Members of the local Bar contend there should be a permanent relieving magistrate for the North Island, instead of "a retired magistrate being pressed into service in an emergency, and are forwarding a requisition to the Minister to that effect; also asking for alteration in the magisterial district to enable one man to cope with the work, this district being larger than Xew Plymouth.