A RELIEVING MAGISTRATE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10012, 7 April 1910, Page 5

A RELIEVING MAGISTRATE.

SAID TO BE TOO"ADVANCED IN YEARS T'l DISCHARGE MAGISTERIAL DUTIES.

A GOOD'SUGGESTION

By Telegraph—Press Association. ; ELTHAM, April 6. Mr A. Greenfield. S.M., who his loDg since retired, and is very old, is actiug as relieving Magistrate, pendi ing the return of Mr Kendric, S.M., absent on sick leave. In Court, today, Mr G. P. Wade, Solicitor, addressing His Worship, said he quite realised that the presence on the Bench of a gentleman of His[.Worship's age mu3t entail a good deal of sacrifice on his part. With all due respect he wished to say that he did aot think that a gentleman of Mr Greenfield's age should be asked to discharge the important duties appertaining to the Magisterial office. He (Mr Wake) felt himself in an awkward position, but he was going to ask that all contested cases be ailowed to stand over Mr Kendrick's return. He made the remarks unly from the point of view of the public interest. He asked His Worship to listin to his protest, and tojjllow the cases to stand over until Mr Kendrick's return. 'll contested cases, with the exception of one, were adjourned, and the congestion in Court business is as bad as ever. One case has teen hung up since December last. Others were partly heard by other Magistrates, and no progress is being made and all Courts in this district are in the game condition. Member? of the local bar contend that 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 to the Minister for Justice to that effect, and also asking for an alteration in the ' Magisterial district to enable one man to cope with the work, this district being larger than New Plymouth.