THE 'JUDICIARY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 313, 29 May 1911, Page 8

THE 'JUDICIARY.

JUDGES AND MAGISTRATES. Ohristchurcli, May 20. During his speech at Waimate last night, Mr. Massey said he had recently had some business in the courts, but the remarks he was going to make, were entirely apart from that. In connection with our law courts we seem to be going back to what appeared to be improper and undemocratic methods. He referred to what was known as the "secret" case in Wellington. The principle he believed was that every citizen of the country, whether in the capacity of plaintiff. or defendant, was entitled to a fair trial and an open court, especially when a man's liberty was concerned. The question would have to be taken in hand and dealt with firrnßy by Parliament during next session. There was another matter. One of the principles of their constitution was that the judges of tho Supreme Court and the magistrates should be paid sufficient salaries to maintain them in comfort and enable them to make provision for their declining years if thfey wished to do so, It was also understood that when a judge took a position on tho Supreme Court bench he had not to expect anything in the way of reward or fear anything in the way of punishment for any official act. That principle should be strictly adhered to, but it had been departed from. There was one judge who within the last few years had received a large sum of money in addition to the salary and travelling expenses allowed him by Act of Parliament. That was Sir Robert Stout. If that sort of thing was to be continued they were going to have the independence of the Bench of Justice gapped, and that was a position none of them wanted to see. In the case of magistrates their salaries were placed 011 the Estimates and were voted. The magistrates were in a somewhat dependent position, , r> ,! r sll,aries sll0u](1 be fixed bv Act of Parliament. He was animated by no personal motives, but by a strong sense of duty, and he believed that tho people, when the question came before lailianient, would back up those who were in favor of the principles lie had stated. Rood men should be selected for the Bench, and they should be pn id good salaries. No political influence should be. brought to hear privately. He was of opinion that no magistrate should be appointed without the approval of two liidgcs oi the SuprcmcrCourt.