A QUESTION OF COSTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14473, 13 September 1910, Page 7

A QUESTION OF COSTS.

INTERLUDE IN COURT.

At the Magistrate's Court, in Wellington, on Friday, Mr. H. H. Ostler, of the Crown law office, appeared for the prosecution in a case- brought by the registrar of friendly societies. At the end of the case. Mr. Ostler asked for costs, and tho magistrate (Mr. W. R. Haselden) then remarked that that raised the question as to whether or not Government servants were entitled to costs.

"I submit that that has nothing to do with the case, Your Worship," said Mr. Ostler. "I am here as a barrister of the Court." Mr. Ostler also remarked that when the Solicitor-General or the Attorney-General appeared in the Supreme Court, the practice throughout New Zealand was to grant costs. In reply to this, the magistrate said that the question of allowing costs to corporations had been mentioned some time ago, and it was seen that if they were allowed costs their solicitors would make large profits every year. "But the money will not go into my pocket, Your Worship," said Mr. Ostler. "It has been the polity of the Government to have the salary of the Crown solicitor paid as much as possible by costs." AccordinglySolieitor's fee was allowed.