NOT ESSENTIAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 245, 4 July 1918, Page 6

NOT ESSENTIAL

SHORTHANDAVRITER'S APPEAL.

I he . Chief Justice had an experience yesterday in the witness-box, when he appeared to support the appeal of H. IS. Lo Grove, shorthand-writer and typist, regularly employed at the Supreme Court as note-taker and recorder of evidence. Sir Robert Sto'iit said tliat Mr. Lo Grove was an able shorthand-writer and typist, with a thorough knowledge of court procedure, and it had taken "seven years to bring him to his present state of proficiency. His presence in the court made it possiblo for more cases to be dealt with than had formerly been the rule. Also, Mr. Le Grove was not i-aii'd as first class in physical ability, having been classed CI. Many men had been sent out of this country who had never been sent to the front at all. Personally, he knew three of these, and lie understood that there were hundreds of others.

In reply to Captain Bcale, military representative, 'Sir Robert Stout said that the amount of time worked by Le Grove at the Court depended entirely on the amount of business that the Court had to do. ■ When Parliament was sitting Mr. Le Grove was engaged on the stutf of Hansard, but even during sessions of Parliament Jlr. Le Grove was at the Supreme Court a good deal. Sir Robert Stout said tlint ho did not know of a man who was capable of doing the work done by Mr. Le Grove. Sir Robert Stout returned again to the point that Le Grove was not an absolutely fit man, and suggested that men who were not fit ought not under all circumstances to be sent to camp.

The chairman: If that were the case \ye would not put any men into tho CI Camp at all.

Sir Robert Stout suggested that the case different if a man were doing a public service. Le Grovo was suffering- from a form of rheumatism which made him unfit for trench warfare. He might be sent into camp and sent to England at a cost of «E2OO or JJ3OO onlj to be sent back here as unfit.

Captain Peale said that Lp Grove was on the staff of the Justice, Department, but only casually. If he were essential surely the Under-Secretary for Justice would have supported tho appeal. He understood tli'it the Under-Secretary had been approaclied ami asked to support the appeal, and that he had refused to do so.

Mr. Le Ghk? said that he had himself seen the Under-Spcrotnry for Justice on the matter, and that the ground for the refusal was that ho was not a permanent public wvnnt in Hip einnloy of thp Justice Denartment. Tie said also that he was the only man in sight enpnMe of doing work in Hie Sunrenie Court.

Cantnin Tipnip said Hint the question thp board h:id to decide was whether wbon it ?put ns it liai) nlrpiidy done, it should not also send court reporters.

Tim bosml took ti'ii" to oonsuW i's (ipcision. but Inter intiniritpd tlml. although it v.-ns re?''»lbblp t'mt a viable officer of Hip Sup'-tip Court lwrt to be sent away, the cill for men vraa so •pvnat Hi") t'i n hoard ■■onl( 1 not exempt liii" on Hip proiinds advnnppd.

The nptiH was dismissed, leave being "ranted until Sen) pmbw 2">.