UNROBED SOLICITORS

Evening Star, Issue 17958, 3 May 1922, Page 10

UNROBED SOLICITORS

AN AUCKLAND. PRACTICE. THE JUDGE SURPRISED. It has often boon said that clothes del not make tho man, hut, as instanced by. a. happening in the Supremo Court (sayL th Auckland ‘Star’), a gown has something to do when a judge is recognising n, solicitor. When a case was called by the Deputy-registrar in the Bankruptcy Court a young barrister and solicitor, Mr 0. Taylor, stood up and informed Mr Justice Reed, who was cn the Bench, that ha was appearing for a bankrupt who sought his discharge. , Are you the bankrupt? inquired Mr Justice Reed.-—No. Mr Justice Reed: Then who avo you, in what capacity do you appear? _ Mr Taylor: I am solicitor for the oankrupt, vour Honor. Mr justice Reed: You should Joe robed when you come to this court;. Get robed and I will hear you later. Th c solicitor then resumed his sent. Shortfv afterwards another solicitor, considerable older than Mr Taylor, and who was 'not in court when the judge commented on the lack of sartorial etiquette dispiaved, announced that he was appearing in 'a, matter that warranted thc judge’s attention. ill- Justice Reed : Why are you not robed? It is the uusal Hung that robes should be worn in this court. The solicitor seemed .surprised, and, apparently realising that he lunj dtopped a blot on tho escutcheon ot tho court, hesitated somewhat. “I am a young soiled or, and I was not aware that it was the practice'tii be robed at a Bankruptcy Court, your Honor. 1 am not a barrister.” , , t, i His Honor then turning to -ho Deputy-rc-'isli'ai-, inquired If it was the practice for solicitors to emu- to the Bankruptcy Court without rolling. . , , , ' On lie-in-' infm-med that it had been (] u , custom. His Honor remarked that it was the hist court in which he had presided wlu-rc solicitors had not been robed. “However, I "ill take this matter. ’ Subsequent!v the judge heard Mr Taylor and several other solicitors who were not robed. TAXED FOE EVERYTHING the WORKERS’ PLIGHT. TOLD BY TEE CLOCK. Bringing before the Arbitration Court at Wellington on Friday the md.rmj luxation with which the worker is mcr-o, Mr L. F, Evans, of Dunedin, picturiMj a worker going through, the day and pav.ng indirect taxation on everything. “The worker who is loriunale enough to live in a house oi his mvn ,-_ he quoted, “jumps out, of a bed—taxed ->0 per cent., blankets —taxed 55 per cent., siieels-ta-xed 50 per cent., nightshirt—taxed ej per cent. He washes in a- basin—taxed 55 per cent., with -map—taxed _ 49 percent., and dries himself on a t.iwol—taxed 55 per cent., uses a toothbrush —taxed 25 pin- cent,, and surveys the gemval olioct in a mirror—taxed 40 per cent. “Next lie puts on underclothing—taxed 40 per cent., a shirt—taxed 29 per cent., collar and lie—taxed 50 per cent., socks taxed 55 per cent.., and braces —taxed oj per cent. He blacks his boots —-taxed 43 pci- cent, with blacking—taxed 20 per rent., and puts in a pair of laces-—(axed 50 per cent. He seats himself in a chair —taxed 40 per cent., at a table —taxed 40 per cent., with his feet on a. nig—taxed 55 per cent.., resting on linoleum taxed 50 per cent. ; drinks lea —taxed Sd per lb out of a. cup-taxed 55 per cent; cals bacon—l fimd 4d a, lb, potatoes—taxed £1 I per ton, off a plate-taxed o 5 per amt. “ After completing ids breakfast he yore, to tho mantelpiece —taxed 40 per cent,, lakes down his pipe-taxed 30 per cent., fills it with tobacco —taxed 4s 8d per lb, and lights it with matches —taxed 2s per gross. °ff it is a holiday, and tho weather line, he puls on his hat--taxod 40 por cent., recommends his wite to put on her hat —taxed 40 per cent., coat—taxed 40 per cent., boots —taxed 45 per cunt., and : takes the baby out for an ailing in clothes ; —taxed 55 per cent., ami .-Tootles—tax'd 20 per cent. Taxo; summitd him night; and day, and when lie gels homo ho puts! on hiiEslippers—taxed 25 per cent., and ! with thc light of a candle—taxed 2-jd per li), proceeds to write to the Pres? asking why on earth the cost of living is so high.” Mr Evans’s story may be correct {comments the ‘Bod.’t. but if this fictitious person wore a Wollingtoniaii it- is doubtful whether lie would have arrived home that evening, Tho police have a, well-founded dislike for men who parade tho streets in their underclothing. Trousers are considered essential in this city—whatever the position in Dunedin.