THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1892. WORKING MEN J.P's.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2441, 22 December 1892, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1892. WORKING MEN J.P's.

A few days ago a cablegram informed us that the British Government were appointing bona fide working men to the Commission of the Peace. This is anew departure, so altogether opposed to the traditions of the office that it is well worthy of notice. It shows that even in England the rights of labor are being recognised. The office of a Justice of the Peace in England is an ancient one. In the old feudal days the Lord of the Manor administered justice in his own district ; but as the influence of that system began to wane, the responsibility of maintaining the public peace was shifted to the shoulders of the Justices of the Peace. But of course it was on the Lords of the Manor these appointments were conferred ; and how it is that the Government are able to appoint working men justices now is more than we can understand, as by a statute of George 11. no one who has not an annual income derived from a freehold estate of £IOO a year is eligible to be a Justice of the Peace. We consulted authories and they agree that this law is still in force. But apparently some change has been effected, and it great change, more especially when we remember that this has come about very hurriedly. Tt gives an indication of the trend of public sentiment in England as well as in the Colonies, and it shows that the wisest of our legislators are to see king to conciliate the working man, by recognising his rights. This is a concession that will have a great moral effect. To be appointed to the commission of the peace will not do the least good to a working man. On the contrary, it will in all probability be a hamperment to him, but the moral effect on the public mind will be great, and will tend to soothe the irritation which exists between Capital and Labor. We are glad that our own Government has conferred this dignity on labor before England had done so. We are in this country leading the world in a Democratic sense \ we were the first to elect bona fide working men to Parliament; first to appoint them to the Upper IT ns a * 3o to t^ie C ,omtTl i ss i cm of Peace,’ Hid ot,'.C’ > P” ts » f «» s™P ire . «• following iu our fuotsw; 1 ®- U“ e “ * difference between the positio*. ° r _ Justice of the Peace in England and in this colony. In England a justice is appointed for the county in which he lives, but in New Zealand the appointment is for the whole colony. The placing of bona fide working men on the Judicial Bench means the breaking down of social barriers, and the establishing all classes on terms of equality. Tips together with the one-man-one-vote places a]Kmen in this colony oa terms of equality, and consequently we j can say without hesitation that we live in a free country.