A BARREN APPOINTMENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 327, 28 November 1879, Page 2

A BARREN APPOINTMENT.

{To thi Editor of the Waikarapa Daut) rial having been presented lately to the the Minister of Justice, shewing him the necessity for a resident Clerk for Masterton for the convenience of the public, Mr Johnstone was appointed to that post and entered upon his duties accordingly This at first worked well, but latterly obstacles seemed to have been put in the way of his transacting the business of the public, the very purpose for which he was appointed. In the. first place, when monies are paid into Court to him, he has to place them in the bank to the credit of the Clerk of the Court at Featherston, and some time must necessarily elapse before the money can be obtained from Mr Freeth, which is simply absurd. Further, I now find that a fresh regulation has been made,-that he is not allowed to sign any summonses, to take confession of debt, or affidavits of any kind, or warrants of execution, thus virtually doing away with the object for which his appointment was sought by the people of Masterton. For if all important processes, such as executions, have to be sent down to Featherston at the loss of at least two or three days, creditors are no better off than they were before the appointment of a resident clerk in this district. At present the clerk at Masterton seems tp nave little or no power whatever, and it rests with the public at large to take some steps to utilise the appointment of a resident clerk, otherwise we shall be as oad off as ever. Yours, &c., Dissatisfied,