LAW PRACTITIONERS

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14836, 29 November 1913, Page 5

LAW PRACTITIONERS

EXTENDED POWERS

(special to "ttce phess.") ** WELLINGTON, November 28. The Law Practitioners Act Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the Legislative Council by the Hon. F. H. D. Bell, gives greater powers to the New Zealand Law Society. That body, in addition to its existing powers and functions, may now— (a) Provide and maintain a law library at Wellington for the use of the Judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. (b) Subsidise tho funds of the New Zealand Council of Law Reporting in •connexion with, the preparation and of reports of legal decisions. / (c) Investigate charges of professional misconduct against any practitioner. (d) Institute prosecutions against practitioners or other persons for the breach of any statute, rules or regulations relating to the practice of law. (o) Oppose any applications made for admission as a barrister or solicitor, or any other application made under part 1 of the principal Act. (f) Appoint any barrister to appear before any court in any of the foregoing matters, and any barrister so appearing shall have audience accordingly on behalf of the said Society. Each annual certificate is now to carry an additional fee of 10s, to bo paid to the treasurer of the New Zealand Law Society. Every district law society, whether already constituted or hereafter constituted, shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession, and a common seal, and with power to hold and acquire real and personal property, and to do and suffor all that bodies .corporate can do or suffer.

All property which at the passing of this Act is vested in the members of a district law society for the purposes of that society, or is vested in trustees for such district law society, shall become vested in the body corporate of that society as constituted by this Act.