KING'S COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 135, 7 June 1907, Page 5

KING'S COUNCIL.

TEN APPOINTMENTS MADE. HON. J. A. TOLE AND MR. F. E. BAUME INCLUDED. CBy Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The announcement is made to-day of the names of the King's Counsel appointed. All the applicants' names were forwarded to the Chief Justice, who recommended the following ten:—• Mr. H. D. Bell (Wellington). Mr. M. Chapman (Wellington). Mr. C. P. Skerrett (Wellington). Mr. J. G. Findlay, Attorney-General (Wellington). The Hon. J. A. Tole. BA_, LL.B. (Auckland). Mr. F. E. -Baume, LL.B. (Auckland). Mr. T. J. Joyne (Christchurch). Mr. T. W. Stringer (Christchurch) Mr. J. H. Hosking (Dunedin). Mr. S. Solomon, B.A. (Dunedin). The Chief Justice, in a covering letter, says that if the honour is to be appreciated not more than ten should be appointed. Wellington is given four, and the other centres two.each, because two judges sit in Wellington, and the Appeal Court also sits there. In making the recommendation, seniority and continued service at the Bar were considered, and other things being equal, university degrees were weigned in j favour of a candidate. The gentlemen j recommended will receive their letters I patent on taking the usual oath of office.

The Hon. J. A. Tole, one of the Auckland K-C-'s, was born in Yorkshire, of Irish parentage, and, coming to New Zealand as a boy, received his higher education at Sydney University, where he graduated as* B.A. in 1565. Mr. Tole was admitted to the Bar in 1871. For many years he actively participated in the politics of New Zealand, and held the position of Minister for Justice in the StoutVogel Government, from ISB4 to ISS7. Mr. Tole resumed the active pursuit of his profession in ISSS, and was appointed Crown. Solicitor at Auckland in 1892. He still holds this position.

Mr. F. E. Baume, the other Auckland King's Counsel, is a graduate of the Auckland University. He was admitted to practice as a barrister and solicitor in Dunedin in 1884, and took his degree as Bachelor of Law in IS9O at Auckland, where he has practised since ISB7. Mr. Baume is an acknowledged authority on licensing law, and is well versed in what is termed in the prolession "case law."

The distinction of King's Counsel gives the holder precedence in the Supreme Court and entitles him to wear a silk gown—hence the expression "taking silk"—and a special vyig. ln England King's Counsel are appointed at the instance of the Lord Chancellor, who first submits the name to the Sovereign and secures the signature of His Majesty to the warrant. "This dignity." states the -'Encyclopaedia of English Law" was not formerly bestowed on any member of the Bar until his career had been marked by decided professional success, but of late years the custom has sprung up of appointing distinguished legal civil servants not in practice at the Bar." The regulations which are to apply to New Zealand holders of the title provide that, except when acting for ti_u Crown, fang's Counsel cannot appear in the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal without a junior from outside their own office, nor in any inferior court unless upon special retainer and a fee of at least ten guineas. There are fifteen King's Counsel practising in New South Wales, six in \ _ctoria, and none in Queensland.