THE LEGAL PROFESSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15521, 31 January 1914, Page 10

THE LEGAL PROFESSION.

SELECTION OF OOUNCIL.

CIEOULAB DISCUSSED.

The distribution of an anonymous circular advocating the.election of certain men to the Council of the Auckland Law Society was responsible for a discussion at the annual meeting of the society yesterday. The matter was introduced by Mr. J. R. Reed, K.C., who said that as he did not intend to seek re-election, he felt at liberty to broach the matter. t He had received a circular which appeared to him to be a peremptory order to the members of the society to vote for certain specified men for the seats -upon the council for the ensuing year. With regard to the personnel of the proposed council he had nothing to say, for they were all men who were held in high esteem, but what he did resent was any attempt by any coterie of members to foist a council upon the society. There were three-members of the old council who had off the " ticket,*; and he felt that there was no reason why any one of J the three should have been alighted in jmch a manner. If Seemed a monstrous ' thing to him that any coterie 5 of menshould attempt to wipe out men who, without exception, had done good -work for the society. He asked for further information in regard to the circular The president of the society, Dr. H. D Baraford, remarked that he could only say that the - old council and its individual members had had nothing to do with the circular, and knew no more about it than Mr Reed. Technically the people responsible for sending round the circular were quite within their rights in taking the ~ action they had, and it rested with them as to whether they would make any' further explanation to the meeting. , He mentioned that his name appeared on the circular as the president for the ensuing year, and he wished it to be understood that he objected to his name being placed on any "ticket" without his sanction. j Mr. Lowrie explained that he had been one of those who attended the meeting at which the circular was decided upon. He maintained that there was nothing domineering in the tone of the circular, and, for that matter, he said, it was far less domineering than the tone Mr. Reed had taken up at the meeting in September last. The circular was really the result of organisation on the part of the junior members of the Bar. Freedom of Action. Dr. Bamford remarked that Mr. Lowrie spoke as though the men on the "ticket" had pledged themselves to adopt in a certain matter a certain, course of action. Personally, he had given no pledge, and reserved to himself the right to act in the matter just as. he might think 'fit after consultation with his fellow members. Mr. J. F. Pullen stated that he had posted the circulars, although he had not been the, secretary of the movement... Had he been secretary he would, undoubtedly, have signed his name to the circulars. He explained that a meeting of some 70 members of the society had been called, and although all had not been present, moat of them had signified their approval of the men selected. Mr. M. G. McGregor stated that be was not a member of the committee that took the matter in hand, although he had found his name on "the "ticket." Personally, if he were elected, he would always reserve his right to act as he thought fit. Mr. C. J. Tunks intimated that he had consented to be nominated,, but further than that ho knew nothing. • Mr. R. A. Singer said that as one of .those present at the meeting, he .considered that they had propriety on their side in asking the members to vote for the best men to carry out. what he .considered the most important task lying before the society. "A Critical Time." ■ r Mr. C. J. Parr understood that he had been mentioned on some circular. He had not given any pledge, nor was any mention of a pledge made by the eight men who waited upon him to ask him to consent to nomination. The present was certainly a critical time for the legal profession. Mr. J. B. Johnston stated that those promoting the circular had been imbued with the desire to have a strong council. ' The junior members had therefore agreed to put aside their claims to representation on the council, and had decided to nominate jolder members of the "profession, who would have a better front to show in case of need. Further discussion followed, and then the meeting voted upon the names submitted. When the results were announced it was found that the promoters "ot the "ticket" had secured all the positions, with the exception of one seat, on the council. A motion was submitted to. the meeting expressing concurrence with a resolution dealing with the administration of justice passed . at a general meeting of the profession held in September last. After discussion, consideration of the motion was deferred until a special meeting, to be called within three months. -