CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 842, 23 July 1879, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

[We do not hold ouraolvea responsible for opinions expressed by correspondente.}

" We will not Bell justice or right to any man."— Magna Charta.

[To the Editor of tJie Herald. ] Sib, — Allow me to draw your attention to the great difficulties which lie in the way of persons of small means, who desire to obtain, redress of any wrong, or who want justice. It would be simply absurd and sheer folly to go to the RM, Court as a plaintiff without a solicitor. He must be paid say two guineas for the day, and with attending to receive instructions, &c, &c, he generally'makes it three ; then you will usually require two or three witnesses, varying from £1 to ten shillings ; to these the magistrate will allow nothing for loss of time, &c, unless, they have been put to' 1 actual expense out of pocket." Well, of course, one could not see them put upon in that way, and they will cost a pound or so ; then there is your own loss of time for the day and expense in attending— say another pound. By the time you have got through, you are also through £5. Now, of this you will, always supposing you win the day, get back the magnificent sum of one guinea for your lawyer, or rather he will get it and stick to it, and every time you ask about it he will pop you dow 6s. Bd. in his books. The long and the short of it is, that if a man owes you ten pounds and disputes the debt, you had far better give him half of it, and be content to take £5. Some people will say :Oh ! but if you got justice pure and simple, everybody would be going to Court for it, and the Court would be overworked. Nothing of the kind ; there would be many fewer defendants if they knew that in case they were unsuccessful they would have to pay every penny the plaintiff lost through having to sue them, which really would be pure justice, i Then they will say, "Well, but, do without a lawyer, and do without wit- j nesses ; conduct your own case. " Certainly," L reply, " U yojj are defendant, nothing would be better, the plaintiff will surely be defeated." . But if you should 'happen to be plaintiff— weli— don't take my word, but just Try It.