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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4379, 27 March 1893, Page 2

Wg do not suppose that within tho reqords of the Colony there iB to be found such an example of "Justice's Justice" as was revealed in the case of Petersen, recently tried before Messrs H. H. Jackson and O. W. Hornblow. Homo of the incidents of the scene in Court were startingly ludicrous, Three informations were laid and one justice

gave judgment on two of {hem and and the other jnatice gave jadgment on the third. A counsel for the acouaecl attacked the Wairarapa Standard find the Editor of that journal was allowed to address the Court in reply and and received a verdict from the Beach ill his favour. The Justices retired twice and when considering their decision were accompnnied by the prosecutor. Vagaries of this kind marked the conduct of the case and they oulminated in the monstrous penalty often pounds being inflated for disorderly conduct. We Bay nothing shout the fine of £2O levied for the assault on the constable as this offenCß was one that called for severe punishment, but w havo never yet heard of a working man, dependant on daily wages, being fined ten poi nds for being drunk and disorderly. We have frequently protested against the appointment of unsuitable persons as Justices of the Peace by the present Ministry. We do not find fault with Messrs Jackson and Hornblow for the decision they arrived at, because they have not had that training and experience that would qualify them to sit as Magistrates, but we do blame the Government for the appointments which they have made, This ca?o is a jlear proof of Ministerial misconduct, and ; it is but right that the blame should be sheeted home to the right qiarter. Possibly, our Temperance friencs will , Boy that the cause of the row on the Sports ground wbb the license given for the sale there of spirituous liquors, Licenses of this character are undoubtedly given uiuch too freely. Visitors to such Sports could obtain ( all necessary refreshments a', the Hotels within five minutes walk of the grounds. To a certain extent, the . Greytown Licensing Committee is • responsible for the disorderly conduct • at the late Sports. The main feature of the case, however, is the spectacle | of a gross maladministration of justice, consequent on the appointment of Justices of the Peace who evidently do not possess the qualifications i necessary for the discharge of Magisterial duties.