MAGISTERIAL REFORM SIR, —There are many shades of opinion on this
matter, and not all will agree with Mr. Howard Price. In choosing new magistrates intelli- gence and a judicial attitude are not the only points to be considered. A magistrate's business must be such that he has time to attend to his duties and can on occasion be available at short notice. This rules out a large part of the population, particularly. the younger men and women. Further, a man must have some urge for public duty, and must not be unduly embarrassed when in the limelight. Such people are only a small part of the community, and they are to be found largely among those who are interested in local-government matters.
It seems to follow that possible magistrates are likely to have fairly definite political affiliations. Their appointment may sometimes seem to have political reasons, whereas it merely indicates that they have been chosen from a number of men of proved public spirit whose avocations allow a certain amount of time being devoted to additional public service. Once appointed, these men who have taken on responsibilities which would be abhorrent to nine-tenths of their neighbours must preserve and extend their interest in a job which can 'be at some times absorbing and at others intensely boring. This interest will not, I am convinced, be maintained if stipendiary chairmen are appointed. Under such chair- manship the amateur J.P. would tend to become an ornament without responsibility, and there would be fewer suitable men willing to give their time to what is under present conditions an important function.—I am,
Previous page
