THROWN OUT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIX, Issue 205, 31 August 1915, Page 6

THROWN OUT.

A GOVERNMENT BILL

KING'S COUNSEL AND THEIR

WORK

An interesting delxate on the ethics relative to King's Counsel took place during the sitting of the House on Friday. The Law Practitioners Amendment Bill was being considered, and Mr Ilindmarsli moved a new clause te prevent King's Counsel from acting a.s solicitors.. He urged that the practice in Kngland, New South Wales, South Africa, and elsewhere should be adopted here.*"

This suggestion, if put into effect, would 7iKviH that no K.C. could do other legal work than that of appealing at the bar.

Mr Lee interjected that no K.C. had been appointed outside the four centres.

Mr H-erdnrin : '""Does the Hon. gentleman want a X.C.-ship for himself?' 1

Mr Lee: "Most decidedly not! I simply state the fact."

Mr Hindmarsh pointed out that a great deal of business went to the offices of King's Counsellors simply on account of the X.C.-ship, whereas many other equally qualified practitioners were "cold-shouldered" because they had not got a "tag."'

Mr Hcrdman said that the effect of the carrying of Mr Hindmarsh's amendment would bo to stop any further appointments.

Mr Hindmarsh ,cmid that the Chief Justices had arbitrarily declined to nominate as K.C's. practitioners in provincial towns.

Mr Hindmarsh's amendment was negatived on a division by 32 to 18.

Mr Hindmarsh then moved an amendment to provide that future appointees should be compelled to relinquish solicitors' work. Mr McCallinn objected to this proposal as establishing a monopoly. On a division this amendment was carried by 25 to 22.

This amounted to the "defeat of tht? Government's Bill, and many Members were jubilant at having scored a win in this direction.

As a finu>l endeavor to recover the "ashes" the Minister in charge of the Bill called fov a final division, the Whips being busy in the meantime; but once agnin Members were against them, the final division being: For 27, against 21. ,