SOLICITORS' CHARGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15830, 29 January 1915, Page 7

SOLICITORS' CHARGES.

KEEPING ACCOUNTS.

DISCUSSION BY LAW SOCIETY

The question as to whether lawyers should charge for keeping clients' accounts, as banks do, was discussed at the annual meeting of the Auckland District Law Society yesterday.

Mr. W. J. Napier moved : —"That -a uniform fee of 10s per annum be charged to clients for keeping their accounts."

The proposal, he said, was very reasonable. Quite recently, heavy pecuniary obligations of a special character had been imposed on members of the profession, and he desired that they should follow the example of the banking institutions, which charge 10s per annum for keeping accounts. That sum would not in any way compensate a practitioner for keeping a complicated account, but would probably reimburse him on the average. There should be reimbursement for clerical assistance employed.

Mr. M. McGregor seconded the motion, to allow the discussion to proceed. The motion, if passed, would not be binding on the practitioner or the client. Without doubt clients would object to such a charge.

Mr. McVeagh considered the proposal a very unwise one. Such a system would create profound dissatisfaction among trustees and beneficiaries.

Mr. C. J- Tunks said they should have further time to consider the matter. Dr. Bamford said the difficulty was to fix an arbitrary fee to cover all cases. The whole question of the auditing of solicitors' accounts was one of difficulty at pre sent. ' It would be unwise at the present moment to pass a sweeping resolution, particularly where it fixed a definite sum irrespective of other considerations. The resolution was not well timed, and in its present form would arouse some hostility, and possibly give the public a false impression.

Mr. Napier said his object was to get the question discussed and referred to the new council for consideration.

Mr- Lawrie held that the money should not go as a windfall to the employer. A motion to refer the question to the council was carried.