ABOUT K.C.'s.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 16 December 1913, Page 4

ABOUT K.C.'s.

\ye "do ;ndt know that our readers are greatly interested in King's Counsel, and probaigy the less they have to do with them;the better off they will be, but, nevertheless, the K.C. is now a New Zealand institution,, and therefore a subject rof-public interest. Why he was "brought into being no one seems to Tcnow; ihe represents one of the doubtful <class distinctions imported into flic country by a Government which poseE as being special friends of the People. In practice he appears to be a burden' rather than a benefit to the Tftigpftt, and to the ordinary rank and ffle.tjf the profession he is a source of some embarrassment and even irritation. Mr "Hindmarsh, himself a lawyer, voiced ijhis feeling-the other day, and he -stated a very large meeting of the -profession in Wellington, by a large majority, had expressed, dissatisfaction. "We'don't want any of these tinkering restrictions in New Zealand," declared Mr Hindmarsh. "He could hardly -ttriderstand, he continued, how this system-was brought down in New Zealand arid-the X.C.'s created. The country -^jras for many years without them, ana-there was no demand for them. The "legal profession was not consulted about it, and it Was an innovation Uhat was not required, and was objectelfl'to by.the majority of the, working lawyers of the, Dominion. Their appointment in a small democratic couritry like this was unnecessary. We aid not want any more patronage pat into the hands of Ministers nor .any more log-rolliiig. The cost ofliUJigation to the public was increased." As the professions were amalgamated in New Zealand the conditions were etrtirely Afferent from England. It -was an absolute nuisance to the public here, and the K.C.Viri i many cases failed to discharge the office that they were supposed to fill. 1 He had knowm K..C.'s giv« briefs to 'juniors in another X.C s-office, who had then reciprocated. was simply a scandal." In these circumstances it might seem the best thing to abelish the Ktn^s Counsel;-and Mr Hindnaarsh, it appears,! projected an abolition Bill. But-that, i^seemsy] is not so easy. To deprive present IK.p.'s of their style and dignity wotfid be shockingly drastic. To- appoint no morewouEd be making -thehonor an extremely close preserve. The Atk>r-n^y-General thinks that all that can be done is to make c<fKing*« Counsel realise that they were -the protectoss of the profession, and -that therefore they should not employ juniors as a matter of form, but should.really permit juniors to take some .actjiv© and genuine part in'^litigation.'" But they >7ere always expected to realise "this, and if they still do not choose to realise it, what is to be,, done ? fAnd, anyhow, how isvthe public'served by the ''pro--tectbrs Gof the profession?" The;truth of thevmattei- is ,that the innovation; was made when it was 'fashionable1 to spring surprises on the public of New Zealand and oft reiterate that we'were a very great people, and; thai" ihe illj considered transplarit4tibnj,,was: conr ceived in vanity and produces abß«rd-< n*?;. ' \r ;■■_)...- ;■-■^'■•.^.rl.:;;,..-..