DILATORY SOLICITORS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 21, 26 January 1911, Page 7

DILATORY SOLICITORS.

MAGISTERIAL COMMENT. Strong comment was made by Dr. M' Arthur, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court this morning upon the dilatoriness of certain solicitors who were reported | to be engaged in defended civil cases. \ There were only three such act-ions to ; be disposed of, and as there was not a I long list the calling over of the cases, ' including judgment summonses, did not ! occupy long. At the conclusion of the I list there was only one solicitor — Mr. 1 Meredith — in conrt. In the first of the j defended cases to be called, Mr. Luke I appeared for one of the parties after ! being brought from the telephone, and I he asked if his Worship would fix the j case for 2.15 to-day. "No, I cant, and ] I won't," said the Magistrate. The case | had been appointed for 10.30, and the I court was ready to go on. Counsel explained that the witnesses were not present ; they would have to be brought irom the country. "I can't help that," said his Worship, "the witnesses ought i to be here." Ultimately the case was j adjourned. Mr. A. Gray, who did not "| appear, was reported to be engaged on t the other side. ! In another case the court adjourned 1 for about five minutes while another ] solicitor was on his way down. On re- \ suniing, Dr. M'Arthur said, "I am not *j going to wait any longer. There were i three cases here, and not a single solici- \ ioT, barring Mr. Meredith. If it hap- . pens again I shall simply adjourn- the ■J. cases, and the party that does not api pear will pay the costs. vVe have got 1 a new procedure to do away with the j old waiting business." /! i v.ill see that it does not occur '■! again," said the solicitor. "Usually we ' have to wait until all the summonses are „ j heard. Last year it took a considerable • time." ~* ' iVell, last year is not this year," ob'a served the Magistrate. - ~\ "1 am very sorry, your Worship," was « the reply, and the case proceeded.