NEW MAGISTRATE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 May 1921, Page 6

NEW MAGISTRATE.

MR. ORR WALKER ON THE BENCH.

NEW PLYMOUTH WELCOME.

At the conclusion of the first sitting of the Magistrate’s Court over which Mr. C. R. Orr Walker has presided at New Plymouth, there was a large gathering of members of the Taranaki Law Society yesterday for the purpose of extending a welcome to the new magistrate.

The president (Mr. J. iC. Nicholson), on behalf of the society, extended a hearty welcome to Mr. Orr Walker. He referred to the difference 'between the conditions in this district and on the West Coast, whence Mr. On- Walker had been transferred, but against this was his Worship’s knowledge of Taranaki which he had gained with the Military Service Board. Members of the Bar recollected the ability and acumen he had shown in connection with the work of that board, and they had no doubt that (the same attributes would be shown in his present position. The speaker also referred to the > large amount of country work ’and travelling in this district, making a rather heavy task for one magistrate. In conclusion he expressed the hope- that in every respect the relations between Bench and Bar would be most harmonious and cordial.

Mr. On- Walker, in reply, said that he appreciated the very hearty welcome to the district which he had received. He had happy recollections of his visits to Taranaki three and four years ago. He had then friendships with many members of the Bar, which he hoped would remain for all time. He had accepted the transfer to this district with great alacrity, as he was very fond of the whole surroundings; it was a district in which any magistrate should be proud to reside. There was only one drawback, and that was the great amount of travelling to which reference had been made. After a month or two on duty he would be in a position to say whether the work was so heavy that it should be curtailed. Though he did not mind hard work, it was not fair to the community that a magistrate should have to work night and day. To hurry decisions was always wrong, and he believed in taking plenty of time. The drawback of having so much work would be lightened, he knew, by the help he would receive from the members of the Bar. In answer to a question put to him before coming here he had said that the Bar of Taranaki was a very capable one. He thought that the relations between Bench and Bar would be happy; it would probably be the speaker’s fault it they were not. When the time came for him to go he hoped they would be able to say the same pleasant things as had been said of his predecessor. The Magistrate also spoke ,n appreciative terms of the court staff. When he was practising at Thames, Mr. Jordan had been in charge of the court there, and he knew him to be an officer who could be relied upon.