LAW REFORM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22818, 27 August 1937, Page 12

LAW REFORM

INTEREST OF LAYMEN

SUGGESTIONS WELCOMED MINISTER'S INVITATION [BY TELEGRAM —PRESS ASSOCIATION*] WELLINGTON, Thursday Addressing the first meeting of the Law Reform Committee to-day the Attorney-General, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, said law reform, although It was primarily tho concern of the legal profession, was not exclusively such, nor did the profession seek to have it so regarded. "Many intelligent men and women in different walks of life are competent to form and express an opinion on the adequacy or inadequacy of some branch or other of the law with which they are especially familiar," said Mr. Mason. "Such institutions as the press, the university, chambers of commerce, and all who desire to see our law brought into as complete accord as may lie possible with tho needs of presentday society, will, I trust, communicate to us any suggestions that in their considered opinion will contribute to the result that we all desire. 1 ' After referring to the items of the agenda, the Attorney-General went on to say that possibly a convenient method would be to co-opt, for the purpose of securing reports, members of the profession who had mado a special study of particular subjects. By this means there would be a diffusion of interest throughout tho members of the profession, tho desire being to pool as far as practicable specialised knowledge for the common good. The Department of Justice would be tho co-ordinating authority responsible for the marshalling of the matters dealt with and their due presentation for legislative action.