OUR MEMBERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1563, 20 May 1887, Page 2

OUR MEMBERS

From the " Hansard " report of the | debate on the Law Praotltlonwfl Bill we extract the following : — Me Ivesq. — I cannot allow bo important a discussion to pass without a few remarkß. It Is a pitiable spectacle, to my mind, to see a member of the legal profession laboring, aa it were, for half an hour m defence of it. lam quite confident that the arguments which the honorable membar for New Plymouth advanced against the pissing of this measure will have no weignt with the House. The unoomplimenUry references which he made to the mover of this Bill were m no way justified. The honorable member for Auckland East deserves the thanks of this House and ef the country foe the pertinacious way m which he has from year to year striven to pass this Bill into law. I hold that the sympathy of this Chamber Is entirely with the honorable member for Auckland Kant, beoanse from year to year this Bill has been passed by the House triumphantly; but In another plaoe it haß not fared so well. I think the legal profession ought to be the last branoh of this Chamber to advance any opposition to thia Bill. It struck ma at the time the honorable gentleman wa« defending his profession that, like Othello his occupation was gone. He evidently feared that the passing of | this Bill into law wonld bring into existence men with brainß, men who would have a raady grasp of the law, men whose servioea wonld be reoognised by persons who would have oases to defend m Court ; and, if it wer enot that .that bogey is feared, I aak why suoh strong opposition was advanced against this Bill to-night ; and why ouch strong opposition, If this Bill is that harmless puerile measure whioh the honorable gentleman attempted to make this House believe. I agree, however, with the honorable gentleman m this : I would insist upon men undergoing certain training foe office work I hold that no man can drawn a conveyance, a declaration, or a plea, or do work of that nature, without undergoing a training m offioe-work ; but I refuse to believe, and I hold that it is an insult to the Intelligence of this House and of the oountry, to say, that a man requires any practical training m the way of oflbe-work to enable him to defend any orimlnal or defend any civil action m the Oourta of this colony. I ask, are our Resident Magistrates compelled to undergo an examination ? No Sir. la some oaseß they are appointed from being Clerks of the Courts, and yet they have to lntorpret the law, Too Resident Magistrates Act gives dißorelloniry power to Magistrates to allow persons to appear on behalf of others m the absence of counsel, The miuiog Act gives power to persona who are licensed to praotioa m Wardens' Courts. It* the law a'lowa persona to appear In WatdenB 1 Courts, why should that right be refused m Courts of minor Importance? I hold that there Is a necessity for an examination and for service of articles for solicitors ; bub when you get to the higher branoh of tho profession, that of barrister, I do not think an examination is necessary. I hold that any man who can intelligently express his Ideas Is capable and competent to plead a oase. I think the remark made of the honorable the mover of this Bill, m the event of his being admitted to practice under the Bill he would be likely to convert the Court into a beargarden, was uncalled-for. Many of the most eminent members of the profession have been oommlttod for contempt of Court, and have baen made to undergo a term of irapriaoament. It is tho possibility of the admission of men of brains that the lawyers of this colony are afraid of, beoaUße, if it were not for that faot, I am quits sure they would not bo resisting this Bill, with one or two honorable exceptions, m suoh strong force. Ido not think it is necesary on my part to aay anything m tho support of the moasure, bocauso It has been so fully debatod from yoar to year. I only rose to Bay a few words aa to the unvovtliy motives which woro imputed to the honorable the mover of this Bill, and a'so t3 the unworthy motives imputed to the supporters of the Bill. I claim the unme disinterested moth 63 In supporting this Bill as the honorable gentleman claimed who has so courageously opposed it.