LEGAL REFORM.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20176, 3 March 1931, Page 7

LEGAL REFORM.

DRASTIC N.S.W. BILL. .ii - ■- ' v ;»' MAKING LITIGATION CHEAPER. (raox.ooa ows cobustoxdevtO SYDNEY, February 19. Drastic proposals-for cheapening-liti-gation, including the abolition of barristers, the regulation-by statute of ocunsels' - fees, the limitation of the ; time of addresses to a Court, are contained in a mil that is expected, to come before the New! South Wale's Farliamrnt during the cuircnt session. TSe Attorney-General (Mr Lysaght) has already announcad I hat he would 'abolish the lav vacation and so keep,the Courts open continuously. •, Thir. :tras idea' of overcoming the congestion •business. ■ • <■ jfr'z The Labour' Government takes the view that the fees charged By. members of the Bar irr most instances are-' exorbitant, and, out of all proportion, to the prevailing economic conditions. It" also holds, in- fact, that there 'is no necessity fpr banisters, and that if every member vt the, legal- profession the,, Ji%ant ;i*. all saved ajkasnriLetfße • amount .in feeju In any event there is a strong 'fueling WtoHg members of the Labour Party that the fees eh*rged, by- eit]tajr. lw-risters-or solicitors should i»o strictly ,/* ,/ 'ft fcyp^x&JJwaaA* 4 _•' Although 'memberrecf Xfu**4gaxs; these reform'proposals «ay . and are talking about a ing, thete is ample precedent in,- Australia for; an amalgamation, of the legal profession. In Victoria fcna'fionth Australia thtero is no formal distiactiort, ! by an* unwritten law of "etiquette it still exists. The same line of, - demaqdatfwv;between the two practices, continues (o be manifested, and the advocates Courts .in I 'wigs and gowns. The measure contemplated' by. the New South Wales > GoverwrnfiUv, Lt is said, .would 'preclude barristers ape peering in.-Courts so arrayed; This would give expression* to the traditional, bour /oppostion to oths parade of trappings 'of office »in: Parliamßnt and ! in the law Courts. The present SpeakerTof tha Legislative A&emfry conformed to ancient.usage'-'.to '"the extont of wearing a .govtrn," Jbut lie has, discarded frig.' 'Cl* " L*! ,In New SftutK.'Wales there are 230 barristers, SO pt whom are King.'s Counsel. ' In the< city there, are ,no fewer than 1090 solicitors, and this, formidable legal atmy is augmented by ( a'farther 750 country solicitors and atwjrneys. A number Of members of the Inner Bar (King V Counsel) 53500 - to =■£5000 attd more a''year. ..According to ciistqm ft 'JKiag'a Counsel must by, a junior memhereof the.*Bftr, : who receives a fee at lepst ttto-thirds of his' senior's. The litigant also' has to pay solicitor's fee. Solicitors declare that barristers , ?e~ clive. the bufic of the legal payments and that the solicitors who work up the ceases - and'-attend to practical details are, often, left with very, little margin after taxalion.' > i ' * Handling the bones fnjm .London's slaughtejrhouses&nd butchers' shops forfns quite a>.big industry. Those which are not ; suitable for handles for 'knives, etc., are boiled to extract the fat, the bones thcfamelves later being crushed for bone/manure. .