AUCLAND LAW SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6147, 30 July 1881, Page 5

AUCLAND LAW SOCIETY.

A meeting of the'-Auckland' Law Society was held yesterday in. the Resident Magistrate's Court, Mr;.'A.. , B; in the chair. \ The minutes of ',the previous "meeting were read' arid confirmed. Mr. : E; Hesk'etn. (Hon. sec.) read the - : '; iitrds'ie not 'the annual meeting of the members of the society, rule 11 does not require a report'of the Council and a financial statement to bo presented: to the meeting. - The following transactions, however,, have passed undor. the notice of .the Council since the last half-yearly meeting,' and it is ' thought desirable to lay theiie before you.: The -first is of an unusual cuaracter.:. A Resident* Magistrate has forwarded two communications to, the Council, in both of which he complains of the conduct of a member' of the profession practising in 'his Court, In writing to the public press, and reflecting severely and prejudicially upon the magistrate; who by reason of his position is precluded from makinz any reply to the letters, which the magistrate avers contain unfounded statements of feet. The writer applies to the society to deal with the matter. These communications will be laid before you. The Council have considered thorn, and in one cane the writer was' informed that they, the Council, have no power to deal with tho complaint; and in the other case; the secretary waa instructed to write to the solicitor in question, enI closing a copy of the letter, and asking him to give an explanation of the. charges therein contained. K6 reply has yet been received.' A letter has been received from Mr. Fitzgerald, of Wellington, relative to the subject of law reporting. - The Council decided to lay this before'you, in order to have tho assistance and views of members before dealing with the subject referred to- A letter has also been received from the Taranaki Law Society asking for a' remission of the balance due to this society for money advanced for the purchase of a set of the Law Journal for the Taranaki Law Society. The sum advanced was £S7 10s, and of this ram £15 Is has been paid, leaving a balance.of £72 9s now due. The position of the society of New Plymouth, and the reasons for making the request will be found in the letter. The Council did not feel justified in acceding to the request until the sense of the half-yearly meeting had been taken on the subject A letter from Mr. E. T. Dufanr relative to tho rumoured intention of the, Government to dispense with the services of tho paid' magistrates will be laid before you. The Council will be glad to have the experience and opinions of members upon a subject of such importance tothecountry. Your Conscil has given some consideration to the Law Practitioners Bill now before the House, and they have communicated with other kindred societies, who have also been taking action upon it. A resolution has been passed by your Council, and copies of this have been printed and forwarded to the members of both Houses. Inasmuch as the Bill has not passed through all its stages, your Council would invite tho assistance of members in "confirming or otherwise the views expressed in the rcsolntion. Copies of the resolution will bo laid before yon. .'.;•.-;

"CißßAnr.—This is now receiving a complete renovation by being refurnished and thoroughly cleansed.' Better and more satisfactory arrangements ;have been entered into for securing tidiness and cleanliness in the library in future. The whole of the appointments will now be perfect, and vigorous steps have been taken to ensure every satisfaction in the future. Tho Council have resolved to purchase a set of the law journals and law reporta for use in the District and Resident Magistrate's Courts. A largo order for books has been prepared by the' committee. A largo number of the itom3 are late editions of standard works, while others are quite new, both as regards authors and subjects. These are estimated to cost about £100. On the arrival of thia order, it will be necessary to decide what shall be done with tho older editions, and, in view of dealing with this matter, the Council invito members to express their views.

The New Code of Phoosdure.—The Council at its hist meeting passed the following resolution upon this subject :—" That, in the opinion of tho Council of the Auckland Law Society, no alteration should bo made in tho existing rules of procedure in the various Courts in the colony, until tho codes of civil procedure, as revised by tho Judicature Committee, and the Acts in connection with the same, have been submitted to and considered by the legal profession." The language of the resolution will sufficiently indicate the reasons ivhich prompted the Council to pass it ._....

A letter from Hie secretary of the Christchurcli Law Society, relative to certain remarks made by Sir George Grey in his position in the House, and in reference to whicb tho Council of the society had passed a resolution onclosed, will be laid before you for your consideration.

The total assets were set down at £850, against which were set down orders for books, furniture, sundries, £400.—The report and balance-sheet were adopted unanimously. Law . Practitioners'. Bill, 1881.—The Council of tho society Forwarded a memorandum upon the Bill now before the Legislature, to the following effect :—l. That the measure is unjust to the members of the profession now upon the roll who have served articles, passed examinations, and paid heavy fees prescribed by law. 2. It is unjust, because it will give the right to participate in privileges, such as libraries, obtained by contributionsfrqmtheprofession. 3. Libraries cannot be maintained if members are admitted without fees. 4. That the measure is defective and objectionable, bfferint; no security to the public for the knowledge or experience of the practitioners. -5. It removes the existing means of acquiring the necessary knowledge and experience without providing any substitute. . 6. That the period of service (of articles) should be rather increased than shortened. 7. The existing law provides guarantees for the knowledge and experience of those from distant countries or places who claim to be admitted. The proposed measure affords no suchsecurity.—lt was resolved to forward the resolutions of the Council to the members of both House of the General Assembly.

Country Justices,—A letter was received, calling attention to the report of Messrs. Seed and Batkin, which recommended the abolition of the office of paid Magistrates in country places. It was stated that there was no knowledge as yet that such a report had been sent in.

Law Reporting.—A memorial was received from Wellington, recommending a scheme for securing authorised law reports. It was resolved to -write to the Wellington Law Society, approving of the proposal, A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.