LEGAL DISCIPLINE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22211, 11 September 1935, Page 15

LEGAL DISCIPLINE

PEOPOSED CHANGES CONTROL OF PRACTITIONERS r POWERS OF COMMITTEE P[BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday Important changes relating to the discipline and control of legal practitioners are provided for in the Law Practitioners' Amendment Bill, notice of which w;n given by the Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, in the House of Representatives to-day. The most important of tho amendments, which are being introduced at tho request of the New Zealand Law Society, is ono providing for the setting up of a disciplinary committee to deal with all breaches of discipline by legal practitioners. The committee will have power to impose a suspension or to strike <i member off tho rolls, although members will have the right of appeal to the Supreme Court. The setting np of this committee, it is claimed, will have the effect of simplifying tho complicated legal process which must at present take place when a breach of discipline occurs, and will bring New Zealand into line with England, where such a committee already exists. Criminal offences, of course, will still be dealt with by the Courts. Another provision seeks to make it necessary for a solicitor before commencing practice on his own account to have three years' experience with another firm. At present it is possible for a solicitor to pass his examinations in one year and commence practice the next, without any experience at all. The rules governing the admission of barristers and solicitors are to remain as at present. Among other minor amendments contemplated is one for tho establishment of a benevolent fund for the relief of needy members. Certain machinery amendments concerning the Guarantee Fund are also proposed.

MORTGAGE CORPORATION CHAIRMAN'S POSITION ANOTHER PROTEST MADE [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] "WELLINGTON, Tuesday A further protest against the appointment of Sir William Hunt as chairman of the Mortgage Corporation, while he still retained his interest in a private concern of a similar nature, was voiced in the House of Representatives to-day by Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Independent—Egmont) during the Address-in-Reply debate. " The Government has appointed as chairman of the biggest lending institution in the country a gentleman whose qualifications are excellent in every respect," said Mr. Wilkinson, " but he holds a leading position in a concern which is in active competition with the Mortgage Corporation itself. Surely in New Zealand there were other men quite as competent for this appointment. It is a full-time job, in my opinion, and should have been given to a man who had 110 other interests. " I understand that when it comes to the appointment of trustees under the Rural Mortgagors' Final Adjustment Act firms are being appointed which have a financial interest in selling goods. I contend that rone but unbiassed people should be appointed to these positions, and that 110 firm engaged in the sale of goods to farmers under control should have any say in the matter at all. We want to keep clear of that sort of thing."

MENTAL DEFECTIVES CHANGES IN LEGISLATION OUTLINE OF PROPOSALS [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday The Mental Defectives Amendment Bill, notice of which was given in the House of Representatives to-day by the Minister of Health, Sir Alexander Young, seeks to remove several anomalies in the existing law. One clause will exempt hospital doctors and honorary assistants from the provision which prevents partners from certifying as to the mental state of the same patient. In the past, the interpretation of partners has been extended to include doctors on the same staff, and some unnecessary inconvenience'has been caused thereby. The bill will also extend to minors the changes in the methods of admission to mental hospitals effected by the 1928 Amendment Act, and those under 21 years will in future receive the benefits of the revised system. Wider powers of inspection of mental institutions will be provided by another amendment and authority will be given the Director-General of Mental Hospitals to extend the benefits of short parole to criminal patients who have proved themselves of good conduct. ' A clause of the bill will indemnify medical men from vexatious litigation after certifying mental patients, protecting the' doctor and bringing New Zealand law into line with that of Great Britain