THE GUARANTEE BILL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 24 July 1928, Page 5

THE GUARANTEE BILL.

THE SCHEME! EXPLAINED. Included in the business .discussed atthe conference of members of the Taranaki Law Society at New Plymouth yesterday, was a lengthy discussion, in committee, on the Law Practitioners’ Amendment- Ball, 1928, commonly known as the ‘‘Guarantee Bill.’’ This is a measure aiming to create a general fund from ■which clients WGUild be reimbursed should funds held in trust for them be .illegally appropriated by a defaulting solicitor. The scheme is that practising solicitors should pay an annual fee of £3 5s and that they should be personally liable for a sum up to £IOO, payable in calls of not more than £lO. As there are 1200 solicitors who would be affected it is estimated that a sum of £120,000 would thus be available as an insurance should defalcations ever necessitate payments /from it. The measure is the result of the recent legal: conference in Christchurch at which the proposal, formulated by Mr Spence, was referred to a special committee for investigation and drafting. Each clause was considered separately and certain amendments were recommended to lire Dominion council of the Law Society for incorporation in the Bill. Speaking at a social gathering in the evening on the same subject, Mr O. E. Bellringer, ALP., said the Guarantee Bill the Law Society had promoted was a meritorious measure, not only because it had emanated; from the lawyers themselves, but bccau.se it meant an effort to give the public proper .security. He felt sure it would go through Parliament. If there was any criticism he believed it would come from the legal members of the House.