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MAGISTRATES _ _ Eleven Are Affected if 70 Years Agreed Upon; Bill Given Committee SIX NOW OVER 75 | m | An amendment by Attorney--Gen--| eral Conant to the bill to amend the Magistrates Act w hich was in-- troduced by Ian Strachan (Lib., To-- ronto--St. George), occeasioned con-- siderable discussion in the Legisla-- ture yesterday. After many of the members had expressed their opin-- ions regarding the retiring ages fof magistrates, the bill was referred back to the Legal Bills Committee.| The bill, as presented by Mr.} Strachan, was the expression of the | special committee of the HMouse | which studied the administration of justice throughout the Province and | one section provided for the retire-- ment of every magistrate or deputy magistrate at the age of 70. Excep-- tion was made for those magistrates and deputies who are now in office to continue until they reach the age of 75 years. The amendment of ~ the Attorney--General was to give the Government power to continue any magistrate, who was particular-- ly fitted for his position, in office until the age of 75. Mr. Conant said that he realized his amendment would mean plenty of trouble for the Attorney--General of the Government in the future when magistrates reached the age of 70, but he thought it would be in the interests of the Province to retain the services of certain magis-- trates, |\ __Mr. Strachan said he did not ap-- \preciate his position as sponsor of the bill because there are six magis-- trates at present over 75 years of age. '"'The main principle involved," he said, "is whether the office of magistrate is maintained for the magistrate or for the administra-- tion of justice. "I regret that it is necessary to make a retiring limit, but the magis-- trate's court is the hard court of < the Province, it is the people's court, the rough and tumble court. Things have changed in recent years and the magistrates now have to make more difficult decisions. I feel that I will be held responsible for the fact that these fine old gentlemen | will be out of jobs, but the office * is much more important than the individual," | _ Colonel Drew pointed out that !the committee had agreed upon 70 |as the retiring age and it should | be kept at 70 unless the House | thought 75 was a better age and if so then 75 should be the limit. | Mr. Conant said there are eleven magistrates who are over seventy | or who will reach that age this | year. They are S. B. Arnold, Chat--| \ham; D. M. Brodie, Windsor: J.| Makins, Stratford; F. W. Walker, | _| Walkerton; J. R. Blake, Galt: W. Keith, Toronto; C. F. Bick, Orillia: E. J. Butler, Belleville, J. H. Mc-- Curry, North Bay; J. H. Campbell, St. Catharines, and O. A. Langley, Peterborough,.