Barrister Pays Client's Fee

Northern Advocate, 7 May 1948, Page 3

Barrister Pays Client's Fee

WELLINGTON,—A Wellington barister earnestly asked a legal authority recently for the privilege of paying a client’s fee, and was granted it. There was no suggestion of heresy, however. He removed that by mentioning that the sum could be recovered later.

The lawyer was Mr T. G. Taylor, and this occurred when a meeting of the Transport Licensing Authority was dealing with the renewal of taxi-cab service licences for a further period of three years. In eight cases, it was reported, that, although the fee of £2 had been lodged with the application for renewal the fee of £2 for the third year of the expired three year period had not been paid, although accounts had been sent out. When the chairman said these people should be taught a lesson, and that the renewals would be held in abeyance, Mr Taylor said one of the men was a client of his and had obviously forgotten the account.

“May I pay the fee now, for this man,” asked Mr Taylor, “so as to save the possibility of his being put off’ the road for a few days?” The chairman granted this request but added; “If we are going to run this authority properly, they must pay their costs.” By this time, Mr Taylor was heading in the general direction of the City Treasurer’s office.