LAW PRACTITIONERS ACT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 28, 2 February 1907, Page 5

LAW PRACTITIONERS ACT.

■RESOLUTION BY THE UNIVERSITY SENATE. l DR. FINDLAY INTERVIEWED. f [by tel£gsa*h. — riirfis AssocfrAa'ios.l CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Tha Senate of feo University of New Zealand passed a resolution asking the Government to repeal the Law Practitkiriers Act, 3(?95, «rhich einacts 'that a j solicitor who has bpen in practice for five years bectim'ps >'pso facto a barrister | of tho Supreme Court. Questioned in reference to this matter, . the Attorncy-Genoral expressed his opinions of the Law Practitkraets Act td' 1&98. Dr. Findlay said : — "I agree with the views expressed by several members of the Senate .(although this matter has in no way been discussed by my col-, Jeagtics) that the cot giving the right 6f one Xylttf has only passed his solicitor's examination to be enrolled as a barris- j ter" at tub end of five yea"rt sßould bo '■ repealed. In Dearly every calling re- ■ quiring special training and . special knowledge^ the law has increase'd\ the severity of the examinations fend other tests. , This ,js conspicuously so in connoction with medi'ciri6 ana in connection with dentistry, and in many directions those persons holding responsible positions are required to pass searching examinations. The. real purpose of all this is that tho public should bo protected against incompctency and the consequent loss either to health or property. . "The rireaent system- of allowing one who has merely qualified as a solicitor to become a barrister by offlnxioh jof time ' strongly tbjids to qestroy the inducement to young men to pass the higher and more difficult examinations now prescribed for barristers. In my view, now that articles are abolished, and ho one socking admission to tne legal profession requires to pay a premium or serve any term, either in a barrister's chambers" or t'n a solicitor's office, there is the amplest oppdrtunity feiven to any young man who is fit to hold a brief to qualify as a barrister in the usual tfay. If he cannot so qualify, 'then tie is bettet out of the profession. If he cata so qualify,; then you aro offering a premium to idleness and to ihcompl<St6 stiidy by giving him the place and thp privileges of a barrister without hia passing tho proper examinations. Every student of democracy recognises that it is in the highest interests _of - tho public that the legal profession shoUla be required to possess not only ft high standard of professional honour, but a high standard of professional knowledge."