JUDGE EDWARDS

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 239, 6 October 1916, Page 6

JUDGE EDWARDS

AUD AUCKLAND LAW SOCIETY. COMMENT ON HARDENS CASE. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. Specially strong, comment was made on the dilatory proceedings in the case of a defaulting solicitor heard to-day, when the Court of Appeal, first,, division, consisting of the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), Justice Edwards, Justice Cooper, Justice Chapman and Justice Sim, heard an application by the New Zealand Law Society to strike off the roll of barristers and solicitors Charles Edward Harden, of Auckland. Mr. H. F. yon Haast appeared for the Law Society, and formally moved the application. j Mr. H. H. Ostler, who appeared on behalf of Harden, said that he could not oppose the motion. All he could say was i that the amount concerned in the case 'was only 30/-. The Solicitors? Trust Account was not involved. Harden was . not constitutionally a dishonest man. His only trouble was that he was addicted to drink. All that he (Mr. Ostler) could ask the Court was that Harden might be granted leave to take employment in a solicitor's office if he Were fortunate enough to be able to obtain it. Harden was a man past middle age., and had no means. He was an able lawyer. Mr. Justice Edwards: Can. you, Mr. , yon Haast, explain why the Auckland Law Society has allowed this convicted criminal to be at large as an officer of this Court; to remain so from February until May? Mt. yon Haast explained that he was appearing, not for the Auckland Law Society, but the New Zealand Law Society. Mr. Justice Edwards: Well, perhaps Mr. Ostler can explain. Mr. Ostler said that he was a member of the Auckland Law Society, but not a member of the council of the society, and could offer no explanation. He added that Harden had not been practising in the profession during the period mentioned. Mr. Justice Edwards: Well, all I can say is that it is a disgrace to the society that a doubly-convicted criminal, a thief, and a forger should have been allowed to remain an officer of this Court.

An order striking Harden off the roll was granted. The request of Mr. Ostler regarding employment was deferred, to be the subject of a separate application to the Supreme Court.