A PERPETUAL GRIEVANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 62, 15 March 1922, Page 5

A PERPETUAL GRIEVANCE.

i ■ ■ AGAINST LAW SOCIETY. APPLICATION FOR REMOVAL OF AFFIDAVIT DISMISSED. An elderly man, Henry Mehaffey, who is well known to members of the legal ) fraternity in Auckland, and in whose mind there seems to exist an erroneous impression that the Law Society mean to cause him harm, made a further appearance in the Supreme Court this morning. ' He was the plaintiff, and the president > and members of the Council of the Auck- - land District Law .Society the defend- '! ants. Plaintiff asked that the deIj fendants should sho-w cause why an 1 1 order should not be made by the court ■"I to remove an affidavit and statement of fc defence by Howard Parris Richmond, i Plaintiff wae not represented by counsel, • while Mr. A. H. Johnstone appeared for • the Law Society. His Honor heard a I little of plaintiff's rambling statement " and then ordered him to keep quiet. This he did, while his Honor looked at 1 some papers handed up by the plaintiff. ' His Honor (to plaintiff): There is nothing to show Why the affidavit should Ibe removed. The application is dis- • missed. I Plaintiff (in a loud tone): But, your > Honor, I — Hie Honor: I have dealt with the » matter. Plaintiff: Then you are not going to ' let mc speak. < His Honor: Xo, the matter has i finished. Plaintiff (in a still louder tone): Then I challenge Mr. Johnstone to prosecute mc for perjury. The Court Crier: Silence! 6ilence! This had no effect on the plaintiff, who was waving his arms about and uttering incoherent statements. However, he was quietened by the constable on duty in the court. i Mr. Johnstone informed a "Star" re--1 porter after the matter had concluded that Mehaffey had for a long time a • perpetual grievance against members of the profession, who, he maintained, had treated him unfairly over a land transaction some years ago. He made complaints to the Law Society, which were \ duly considered and dealt with. Subsequently Mehaffey applied to the Supreme Court for a writ of mandamus to compel the Law Society to reconsider the . matter. That was dismissed by the . Court, and he then moved to have the present affidavit removed.