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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3523, 30 May 1890, Page 2

What are we to say to Mr RenalL | who, on Wednesday evening, for the space of * n hour, vigorously assailed ! two tetP of M«»ent which he denounced as infamous? As we understand it his argnment was as follows:—" The, Distillation Act'is bad, but..'the inteution of the le'gislo. : lure is good. He, as a justice of the peace, by disregarding the bad letter,

of the law, arid going behind it for the good intention liadmcceededin ' defending a p er 8 0n w ii om lie be-' lieved to be' innocent from punishment, In a similar way the letter of' the Rabbit ,Act is bad, (but here he [ did not even assert that here there was i good intention behind by whioh he as a justice of tho peace could smother the bad latter of Hie law.) What was ha 'to do? He solved the difficulty by: suggesting that if othor j ustices would; back biin up 'he was prepared to go on the Bench and dismiss, cases in accordance not with the: clear letter and intention of the Act,-but with his own- abstract ideas of justice and right, As a justice of the peace Mr Benall takes an unique position, and we fear that when he ceases to adorn the. Bench he will have no successor, We recollect many years ago a culprit pleading guilty before Mr Beuall in his magisterial capacity, and the ohronio struggle between the letter of the law and.the innocent intention coming to tho surface. "You did not do it on purpose," said the magistrate. "Yes, sir,"replied 1 the accused. "Then don't do it again, case dismissed," rejoined the Bench. If we or any of our frhids , ever get into trouble we would desire i to see Mr Benall on tho Bench, for • whatever his judgment may be wo are quite certain that his heart is in ' the right place. ,