The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1886. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2225, 20 February 1886, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1886. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Justices of tlio Peace are not a colonial invention, as we have adopted the idea" of them from the Mother country. We aro, however, now improving on it to such an extent that the mother would scarcely recognise her colonial offspring. We all know what the English ideal of a J.P. is! From time immemorial he lias been chosen from the worthiest men in the land, the qualifications beinghigh personal character,education, intelligence, and a substantial stake in the country, Excepting when a Radical Ministry has beer, in power, we have endeavored in New Zealand to copy the English pattern, but when the Radicals art in they play sad havoc with the traditional type. . They lower the standard of the roll in two ways, first by the multitude of men whom they place on the roll, and secondly by an apparent indifference as to whom they appoint, They do not pick the worst men in the community, but they certainly do not choose the best; and this, in a matter so serious as the administration ot justice, is a crime against the welfare of the community, In almost every Gazette npy/ we read that His Excellency the Governor \w beon pleased (and no doubt very much displeased) to accept the resignation of certain gentlemon as Justices of the Peace. This means that certain gentlemen areso disgusted, wit)* new appointments that they no longer it an honor to be on the commission. We do not approve of these resignations, ■because they -- only tend to make bad ;w.orse,: The. subtractions, as well as ;the additions tend to lower the standard ;of, the roll,.and in time, if the changes :riow,;in operation continue, no person gaining his "reputation will consent to JWvft the honor conferred upon him. rThejresent Ministry has made about : th;ehime>lp:;rnahy J;,JVh p have ::bpe|^.require(l^to;.recruit the rpl|, ; A'bout one-third ;ot their appointments ili'a'vftbeej) giyeii.'to fit and proper men, nnothey.' third : may. he said tp have ';beeu : ,.conferrod ;piV;i questionable applj'cants/jand .the;;romflindei' on notoriously ;unfit=candidntea.. VEor party and po'itiicabjiurposes ■ they: havo degraded the ;; dpnc v.ioleiice;jto.the scutimentß cpio'hist? who takes a pride in adopted country.' :'Wa } for enrich. \ and/', friends at the .public' the o/funco of ,Ste'aling..'.fi'dni' the, colonial''purse js)?,% iheiftbiis'than that of robbing the colony Ministry have "sijl]tgd the>.hohor. • of^ : tlio colony, and the. gravest' fault of could be guilty.