Law for the Poor.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14991, 11 June 1914, Page 6

Law for the Poor.

A new system has been introduced into England for tho purposo of giving k-gal assistance to persons who aro too poor to go to law in tho ordinary way, and a cable ma—age this morning states that already 1400 "poor suitors'" have availed themselves of the facilities provided. Theoretically it has always been contended that justice is not denied even to the poor, seeing that means have been provided by which "persons unable to brief counsel in the ordinary .vay might sue "in forma pauperis." In practice, however, this means of relief has proved a broken reed in the cases in which such help was most required Even to sue "in forma pauperis" it was necessary to get a solicitor to tako up the case, and as a rule that solicitor req.iired t_ bo paid. Under the new system j.-ractically tho poorest suitor who has a genuine wrong remediable by tho law will be able to obtain lcj-al assistance to secure his rights. Two lists of legal practitioners are compiled by a Government official m each

distri-it. ■■ Ono list contains tho names of solicitors and counsel willing to bo assigned to investigato the report upon the cases of poor suitors, and the other is a. list of those who are willing to appear, for a moderate fee to be pafd by tbo Government, for those -nitons whoso cases havo been favourably reported upon. No solicitor or bar-

rister can appear in a case on which he his given advice. The Government officer having satisfied himself that tho suitor is without means sends him to a 'nwyer on tho first list for advice, and if th-. lawyer thinks tho caso -houkf be taken up it is handed over to a lawyer on the •.••■cond list. The plan seems well derisix! to remove what has been a decided defect in the law in regard to the very poor, and at tho same time care appears to have been taken not to encourage frivolous litigation on the one haid, nor to interfere with the just .••■f.hh- of the legal profesa-aion on the other. The New Zealand Governmeat mij-cht do worse than consider whotho* a similar plan could not be adopted with advantage in this country.

Canterbury has had to wait a long timo for, the introduction of the new system of physical training into its schools, but it is satisfactory to sco that definite arrangements are now being made for the preliminary training of tho teachers under Mr Koyd Garlick's supervision. Wherever the system has been started the teachers have taken it up with the greatest en-

•'siasm. The letter which wo published yesterday from a teacher is only one of dozens which have been received by the Minister, showing that the tCaichors themselves derive personal benefit .and pleasure from tho training,

id are delighted with the prospect it opens up of improving the health of tho children. It is evident that the appointment of Mr Royd Garlick has been a great success, and many ol" those who tried to mako party capital out of the affair, regardless of the injury likely -0 be done to tho children by an attempt to bring the system into discredit aro feeling ashamed of their conduct. Tho more decent of them frankly admit that they made a mistake.

Most people will be glad that, according to tho chief secretary of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, there is reason to believe that Commissioner Mel.i« has heen misunderstood in his reference to tho Empress of Ireland disaster. Every sober Christian will agreo with Lieut.-Colonel Powell that "to suggest that God would visit his displeasure on the Army in such a way, involving, as it does, the loss of hundreds of lives, and causing widespread sorrow to thousands of people who had no connexion witli tno Army, is manifestly absurd." It is only necessary to recollect what was said in connexion with tho fall of the Tower of Siloam to feel assured that no Salvation Army officer would have uttered the sentiments attributed to Commissioner McKio. Tho great characteristic of the Army officors is that Ffley diligently road their Bibles and remember itteachings.

It is encouraging to learn that signatures are being freely attached to the petition for a poll on the rating system of this city. The faddists have too.long been allowed to have their own way in Christchurch, which is rapidly becoming tho laughing-stock of tho Dominion, and it is time the business men of the town and the moro responsible citiasens aroused themselves and took tfieir proper place in its municipal government. Tho singlo-taxers managed to foist their pet nostrum upon us simply because the great mass of tho citizens were asleep. It is now time for tho latter to wake up.

The Education Board preferred to be discreet rather than definite yesterday, in dealing with the protest received from the Licensed Victuallers' Association against the use of the schools as an agency for the circulation of the controversial literature issued by the Prohibition Party. What the Association complains of is "a system which will allow of the schools being turned into political bureaus." "Wo do not wish,", the Association's secretary observed, in his lett-er to the Board, "to distribute literature of any kind ourselves, but if the Prohibition Party is permitted to make use of our schoojs for political purposes, then we must request your Board to allow us the same privilege." The Board might, with advantage, havo taken the opportunity to condemn tho distribution of campaign literature of all kinds through the schools, but it preferred merely to "receive" the letter, the chairman observing that if the parties were reversed the Board would act in the same way.

The Prohibitionists cannot now complain if the Licensed Victuallers' Association decides to circulate through the schools leaflets or other publications exposing the many fallacies of Prohibition. Most peoplp approve of the means whereby the virtues of temperance, and the evils of alcoholic excess, are impressed upon school-children, but there is a vast difference between temperance teaching and Prohibition politics. Of course, the children wero not in tho minds of the Prohibitionists when circulating their political literature. The idea was to use the children to secure the circulation of the literature amongst their parents. As we have said, tho opponents of Prohibition cannot be asked to concede to the Prohibitionists any special privilege in the matter, and they have a perfect right to counteract tho activities of those whom they regard as the defenders of pernicious social and political doctrines. The public, we are quite suro, would prefer, however, that the schools at least should be kept free from the interference of all political parties of all kinds.

A correspondent of the "Dominion" has called attention to an extraordinary article in tho "New Statesman," in which Mr E. Tregear writes of the Waterside Strike. Mr Tregear, who was formerly the head of the Labour Department, is remembered chiefly for the freedom with which, as a Socialist pillar of the "Liberal" Party, he was permitted, while a public servant, to express wildly partisan views. In his article in the Socialist weekly, he makes statements and suggestions which everyone in New. Zealand knows to be seriously untrue. He actually suggests that the waterside strikers wero fighting against unfair wages 1 '.'in tho

very, first woek of the dispute," he says, "tho Government could havo put the butter, wool, etc., on board the ships if they had said to the watersiders: 'We will sco that you are paid fair wages to do tho work, and if the shipping companies will not load the ships we will, and chargo them tho cost.* " Ho refers to the special constables as "raiding fanners,'' and imputes to "the wealthy classes" a willingness "to start a civil war and fill the streets of tho ports with blood." Ho also prints the monstrous fabrication—so monstrous that comment is impossible—that, wnen the crowds gathered in Bucklo street, "military forces witli 'machine guns made their appearance." The "Dominion" is not unnaturally indignant that Mr Tregear should circulate these disgraceful libels, but, after all, there is no reason for special indignation. Mr Tregear hates the Government, as do. the Red Feds, and the Wardists, and his story is not a whit moro blameworthy than theirs. It is only a little more picturesque.

Not Wellington only, but all New Zealand, should be pleased to learn that the Government intends to take definite action concerning tho Dominion Museum. Tho intention of the Government is to abolish the mouldy and rickety cottage in which the treasures of tho Museum have been housed, and erect a Museum on tho Mount Cook Reserve, the great brick barracks upon which will l>e used for tbo" storage of historical records. Every visitor to "Wellington knows this brick building, which occupies a commanding position overlooking the Te Aro flat. For years Wellington people have deplored the waste of so valuable a site, and have urged that it should bo properly occupied and made comely. Improved and planted, it can ultimately be made a line addition to the few pleasant open spaces in tho city. On national grounds thero is reason for satisfaction that an adequate Museum is to be established at last, and the valuable specimens in the present contemptible little structure rescued from their obscurity and tho risk of destruction by fire. All this should havo been done years ago, as everyone knows, but we can all forget the neglect of past Governments now that tho omission is to be repaired at last.

Tho work of the Society for the Health of Women and Children, which held its annual meeting yesterday, is now so well-known, and has proved of such valuo to the public, that it stands in littlo need of advertisement. Wo aro glad, however, to renew our recognition of tho Society's services to tho infant life of this country. It can claim not only to havo assisted in lessoning infant mortality, but also to have' spread far and wide sound ideas upon tlie best methods of feeding and rearing babi-<-*. The Society is particularly anxious to extend into tho country districts tho activities of the Plunket nurses, and the ono note of dissatisfaction in the report is caused by the generally poor response made to the appeal to country people to form small local committees to assist the travelling nurse and defray her expenses. It is only a matter of organisation, acd we trust and believe that the reminder now given to the women in the rural towns will bear fruit.

Wo congratulate our ably conducted contemporary, tho "Timaru Herald," on having attained its jubilee, which it celebrates to-day. When the paper was .started fifty years ago, Timaru consisted of about 150 houses, and its total population was between 1400 and lfiOO. Complaint was made in tho first issue of the inconvenience caused by horses and goats being tethered in tho streets. To-day Timaru is one of the most flourishing and enterprising towns in the Dominion, and the "Herald" has worthily kept pace with its progress. In another column, by tho courtesy of the editor of the "Timaru Herald," we publish somo interesting reminiscences by Mr Edward Wakefield, a former editor, who did a great deal to bring the paper into prominence, and was a valued contributor to "The Pro-s."