by TheJusticeofthePeace @ 13.
Nov. 2010. – 12:58:11
One would have thought that a
representative body faced with the most radical shake up of its members`
practices in a generation…..even in two generations……..would find it logical, expedient
and productive to concentrate all its efforts and limited resources to hammer
out its message to the public and opinion formers. One would have thought so
but when the organisation in question is the Magistrates` Association it
appears that logic, expediency and productivity go out of the window.
There are pressing matters and
pressing arguments to concentrate minds with regard to the Coalition`s
intentions to reduce prisoner numbers, close prisons and divert many thousands
of addicted and mentally ill offenders to non existing [at present] community
institutions staffed by non existing [at present] personnel paid for with non
existing [at present] resources. Thus there are many directions in which the
M.A. could be firing its short supply of arrows and still find a useful target.
But that would too obvious. Instead, according to a report today
in The Telegraph, the M.A. has proposed that newly qualified drivers should be
legally required to have on their cars front and back a green P plate to warn
other road users of their inexperience. This story for emphasis is subbed as
policy of the 28,000 member M.A. I have searched high and low in the impossibly
difficult to navigate website of the organisation and found no mention of this
policy. One would have thought that a document sent as official policy to
Philip Hammond, the Transport Secretary would have at least been noted in the
minutes of the latest meeting of the association`s Road Traffic Committee on 7th October. One
would have thought wrongly.
One would have again thought
that such a radical proposal from those who represent us, the magistrates who
sit in judgement of such matters, would have been discussed with others who
might have some input learned from experience. Perhaps the M.A. has had talks
with driving school representatives, or those involved in road safety matters,
or motoring organisations, or the police and Crown Prosecution Service who
would have to detect and prosecute those who flouted this proposed new
legislation. From the report we are told the A.A. gives it short shrift.
The A.G.M. of the Magistrates
Association takes place later this month. It will be attended by a couple of
hundred at most. And that is the way the incumbents prefer to keep its
meetings……close confined. The minutes of the last A.G.M. will not be available
until the impending get together. That is another way of ensuring minimum
criticism. There is no good reason on this Earth for these minutes not being
available in advance on the labyrinthine website recently re vamped at a cost
of perhaps £50,000. The 2008 minutes have no information of members in
attendance. Obviously each would have had to sign in. Why should the names of
the attendees not be added on a separate page[s]? At least the numbers
attending and voting should be published without web site obstacles which make
navigation nothing short of a joke impeding efforts to seek answers. Why is
there no facility for distance voting?
When many of an organisation`s
functions are carried out in a less than transparent manner errors of judgement
will be made and re-made and made again. Irrespective of the soundness or
otherwise of the proposal described above to have made it with apparently
little or no consultation and been singularly rebuffed by the Minister of the
department involved is sheer crassness. I have said it before and I say it
again……..in its current form the Magistrates` Association is not fit for
purpose!
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