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Hastings Standard, Issue 496, 8 December 1897, Page 2

The Piemier has circulated a Bill having for its object the limit ition of solicitors' fees. The measure proposes that in defended and undefended cases, where less than £5 is involved, no solicitors fees shall be charged. It also limits the fees to be charged in cases where more than £5 is at stake. The necessity for some such enactment has long been felt. The legal fraternity has formed itself into a sort of professional union to keep up prices, and in its avarice it has not scrupled to extract the last penny from the pocket of the unsophisticated litigant. It seems somewhat anomalous that the Premier should bbw the knee to the trades unions and assist them in keeping up prices, whilst at the same time he endeavours to burst up the logal union which maintains the professional fee. But this is beside the question. Legal fees are out of all proportion to the fees charged for services rendered in other professions. And if the fraternity does not lower its charges Parliament will be warranted in stepping in and doing it for them.

The Government has introduced a measure entitled the Emergency Loans to Local Bodies Bill. This measure is designed to assist local bodies in performing works of an extraordinary character. Its necessity has been demonstrated on several occasions of late where districts have been placed in an awkward fix through special circumstances.

Travellers by train from Wellington to Napier complain that between Woodville and Napier there is only one railway station—Te Ante—from which telegrams can be despatched, and here the train stoppage is so short that it is impossible to get a wire away. The mat tor is one which calls for the serious attention of the Government. Passengers by train should be afforded facilities for despatching telegrams at several stations along the line.

The Ward episode has resulted in the Premier introducing a measure to prevent undischarged bankrupts from sitting in the House of Representatives. The principle of the Bill is good, but the proper time to have introduced the measure was when the case of the Hon. Mr Ward was before the House. It looks like shutting the stable door after the horse has gone. But even yet the measure may be of public service. Supposing, for instance, that the Premier were to seek protection in the Bankruptcy Court !

Tiie Hastings Fire Brigade is responsible for having averted a serious conflagration in Hastings on Tuesday night. The fire had a good hold of Yickers' auction mart, and it looked for a time as if the whole block would go. The Brigade, however, by its splendid discipline and skill, confined the flames to the building in which they started, and thus added again to their list of brave achievements.

That tuberculosis should have been discovered in the dairy herds of Hastings is to be regretted. The disease is a dangerous and infectious one, and in the interests of public health we look to the settlers of the district to use every effort to stamp it out.

The cables to-day are of more than ordinary interest. They show that the Germans are thirsting for blood, and, like the boy reaching for Pear's soap, " they won't be happy till they get it."