THE FACTS EXPLAINED.

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

THE FACTS EXPLAINED.

BY PRESIDENT OF LAW SOCIETY. "PUBLIC HAS NOT SUFFERED." When shown the foregoing telegram the president of the Auckland Law Society (Mr. R. McVeagh) appeared to be somewhat surprised at the stringent tone adopted by the learned judge. In exp&ining the facts, Mr. McVeagh said that Harden was convicted of forgery in the Supreme Court at Auckland on February 22hd last, and on the 24th of that month he was ordered to be placed on probation for a term, of three years. On the last-mentioned date he was convicted before Mr.-'F. V. Eraser, SAL, on. a charge of theft and discharged on payment of medical expenses. It appeared that-"Harden was in a condition of drunkenness when the offences were committed. •".'

"Now, in regard to Mr. Justice Edwards' comment," said Mr.- McVeagh, -» has to be pointed out tbalt Harden was not engaged in practice m Auckland subsequently; that the application for the rule nisi to strike him off the roll was moved in the Supreme Court on May 19th; and that owing to the congestion of judicial business it could not be heard until July 4th. The pnblic interests did not suffer, because, as has already been pointed.ont, Harden was not in practice. One would say that there has really been no unreasonable delay on the part of the Auckland Law Society. They have discharged their duty to the public, and the public interests have not suffered."