THE ASSOCIATION OF MAGISTRATES. [To THE EDITOR OF THE "
SPECTATOR."] Sias—Would it be possible to the Spectator to give a " leg up" to the new Association of Magistrates? It was started under favourable auspices at a meeting at which the Lord Mayor presided and Sir Henry Troup, on behalf of the Home Office, attended and warmly supported the scheme. It was finally inaugurated at a meeting held in October last, at which Lord Haldane (now President of the Association) presided and the Lord Chancellor attended and spoke. I append an extract from the constitution showing how the council is to be con- stituted. I understand that a good many individual magis- trates are joining, but to make it a success it is necessary that a substantial proportion of the Quarter and Petty Sessions should come in in order that the council may be representative.
If they do this, I think that the Association would supply an existing want. At present there is no body that can even pretend to be representative of the Sessions of the country, and this is unfortunate, because magistrates who attend Sessions and County Committees are, from their personal expe- rience and from the fact of their being in touch with justices' clerks, the police, prison authorities, &c., the persons best qualified to form an opinion on the working of the laws they administer and on such subjects as licensing, Borstal treatment, prison discipline, and so on. On the one hand, the Government has at present no means of ascertaining their views on such subjects; on the other, they have no means of suggesting defects in existing legislation or of making criticisms on pending legislation. The council, if fairly representative, would supply this want, but at present the position is rather like that of Lord Chatham and Sir Richard Strachan in the Walcheren Expedition—each Session seems to be waiting to see if the other Sessions will come in. It would be of great assistance if the Spectator could say a word in approval of the scheme, and of how its value depends on the Sessions taking it up promptly. A meeting of the Association to elect the council is to be held in May next, so that only represen- tatives coming in before that date can be elected. Applications should be addressed to the Secretary, Cecil Leeson, Esq., 45 Devonshire Chambers, Bishopsgate, London, E.C. 2, who will give all information.—I am, Sir, &c., FRANCIS C. GORE. 61 Onslow Square, S.W. 7.
"Extract from the Constitution of the Association.
Cl. 3. Any bench of magistrates having funds at its disposal, or collecting for this purpose, shall for each £1 subscribed be entitled to nominate one of its members as a member of the Association. All individual magistrates subscribing £1 annually shall also be members of the Association. They shall he entitled to attend and vote at all the meetings of the Associa- tion, to receive copies of its publications and reports, and to consult the council upon any matter relating to their duties as magistrates.
Cl. 5. All courts of Quarter Sessions of counties and divisions of counties, and all courts of summary juridiction in counties, cities, and boroughs, shall, when five of their members are members of the Association, be entitled to elect annually one of their subscribing members as a member of the council of the Association. The annual meeting of the Association shall also elect a number not exceeding the number of representatives.
[The constitution also contains provision for the electing of executive and other committees and for forming district councils.]"
'[We trust that this most important and well-planned organiza- tion will receive the confidence and support which it clearly deserves.—En. Spectator.]
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