The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, MAY 20, 1884. THE GREAT UNPAID.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1691, 21 May 1884, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, MAY 20, 1884. THE GREAT UNPAID.

i Sin George Grey recently delivered ' the followingutterhnces on the subject [ of J.P.'b I would sweep away the j whole system of people begging to be, ■ made Justices of the Peace, and every ■ member of the community should have the chance of filling that office, and learning something of the laws of the land in whioh lie lives, and how they are administered. I would only lot him hold it for a certain time, so that if awronfj choice was made the people could get rid of him, and not have somo men'cringing to get a relate made a J,P., One, perhaps, quite unfit for the position, and who, one? put there, may possibly be never got out of ; it." An opinion such as the one ex- ■ pressed by Sir George Grey is likely ■ to be extremely popular! It is probable, however, when- the practical •result of such a change is taken into consideration that the enquiring mind , will come to tho conclusion that it is, on the whole, better to bear the ills wo have than fly to others that wo know not of. In the first place, the privilege of writing J,P. after a namo is now regarded as a distinction. It is an honor conferred by the Crown on gentlemen who, from their social position and general, character, are supposed to be worthy of it, Under - these, circumstances it is no matter ot surprise that there are many beggars for the honor, and that occasionally it is rather purchased than merited. 'Our J.P.'s ara not all diamonds of "tho first water, but the wonder, on the other hand, in a democratic couimunity like . this, is, that they arenofcißruuimagem jewellery. 'They are still, as" a ! class, respectable, and the ' position of a J.P, is yet regarded as a distinction. Were, however, Sir George Grey's proposal carried out' the J.P.'s now on the roll would, if they were not turned out, • resign en masse, It would be a greater honor then tobqan ox J.P. than one of the new. creation,.' There ■would be no longer any ambition to' undeitake the office of a Justice'of the Peace, and instead of , fairly qualified men seeking to . sit on-'tip bench the highways and. byways w'dfuid' h'ave;;J,b ! i be ransftoked for have an example of thisCsort-'-of thing: on our licensing Committees,;. . ,( : Wben ; the., ,0/wn appointed. liicettsihg Com-, missioners the ' best: men m ; the community were glad, to on the Licensing Bench* Under • the presentelective system they wont come forward as candidates, and other !peopl s e folllowing their, example, ■ hold'' aloof; The consequence is that the publicans have to select respectable settlors to make a' Bench' in order to . Secure that; the. Licensed' vVictiialierg. business- 'should'' be" carrie Con "in a satisfactory manner. ' Sir George Grey's model Justices ; of the; Peace would turn out as great a bluiider as the Licensing and for exactly tho same reason. When Sir George Grey was in power h'e in a measure lowered the status of, J.P,!s by the admission of Some questionable candidates, and if he-were to: again come into power he would no doiibt ' complete the work which i commenced. We should be -glad to receive any; suggestion .for i improving < the j.P, corps of the colony,' but we i can hardly believe that the' 'effect of Sir ' George. Grey's proposal _ u;qu}4 : . be ,'inj i this direction. • ai'e J many and ' obvious deficiencies in our J.P. system, ! but it is far better, to bear with them i patiently than by a sudden and violent ' transition to replace existifig Justices , by a body which would have neither f the respect nor the confidence of the i community. J