AUCKLAND LAW SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19892, 10 March 1928, Page 12

AUCKLAND LAW SOCIETY.

LIBRARY ACCOMMODATION.

\ 4l GRiEVOUSLY INSUFFICIENT."

The annual meeting of the Auckland Lavr Society was held yesterday, the president, Mr. J. B. Johnston, presiding. In his presidential address, Mr. Johnjjfcon paid a tribute to the high standard of conduct observed in the profession throughout the Dominion. Such a stan"dard could not possibly be set too high, as any meanness or unprofessional conduct on the part of a few would inevitably bring discredit on the whole. No member should ever forget that he belonged to an ancient and honourable profession.

l i The annual report' showed the present membership of the society to be 612. During the year seven applicants •were admitted a3 barristers and solicitors and 15 , as solicitors, while 12 solicitors were admitted as barristers. Certificates had bsen issued to 223 barristers and 520 solicitors, compared "with 217 barristers and 508 solicitors in' the previous year. The attention of practitioners was directed to tho additional rules and regulations under

f'The Law Practitionera Act, 1908," which zequired every application for admission as a barrister or solicitor to bo supported by a certificate as to the applicant's character, signed by the -president or secretary of the Law Society in whose district the application was made. These regulations had thrown an extra burden on the council and the co-operation of employers was requested to facilitate the obtaining of the necessary evidence. The following resolution, moved by Mr. R. McVeagh, was carried' The society desires to direct the attention of the Minister of Justice to the grievously insufficient accommodation at the Supreme Court library at Auckland and to the urgent necessity for providing increased accommodation. " The meeting recorded its doep regret at the deaths of Mr. Justice Alpers and Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M. The society also lost during the year Messrs. W. H. Armstrong, G. M. Johnston, C. Z. Clayton, P. Oiiphant and A. G. M. Leather. Congratulations were conveyed to Sir "Walter Stringer, on his well-earned krfighthcod, to Mr. Justice Blair on his elevation to the Supreme Corirt Bench, and to Messrs. S. L. Paterson and J. H. Luxford on thoir elevation to the Bench of the Magistrate's Court. The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr. F. L. G. West; vice-president, Mr. R. P. Towle; treasurer, Mr. J. H. Reyburn; council of the society, Messrs. R, R. Bell, G. P- Fin lay, A. M. Goulding, J. B. Johnston, P. G. Massey and R. McVeagh: council of law reporting, Messrs. R. McVeagh, Tf. P. Richmond; council of the New Zealand Law Society, Messrs. A. H. Johnstone, R. McVeagh and H. P. Richmond. It was announced that it had been derided to hold an annual conference of members of the profession throughout the Dominion. The first conference had been arranged for April 11, 12 and 13, and would be held in Christchnrch.