THE WAYS OF THE LAW.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1523, 20 August 1912, Page 2

THE WAYS OF THE LAW.

Sir,—fu reading Tn>; DojnxioS* this morning, I. notice that in the recent' Court easy between a fruilcrer and an auctioneering firm, Mr. Skerrctt, K.C., is reported to have- said, in drawing an analogy between the lawyers and the Merchants' Association, that "Wo (the lawyers) don't sell our goods at other than tariff rate." His Honour Mr. Jiis- [ tico Edwards evidently did not agree with. ] Mr. Skprrett, and replied "there was a . Ri-e.nt djsliiKiinn. between mi niniH'inwi's' . and Milipitovs' ,i..wor.i,it,ion fray word there is 11, as tlusre. was a rcsjoftsiblo .officer, of

ihe Court to see I hat too much was not charged by solicitor.-;." Xo»- will his Honuiir Sir. Justice Eelwards kindly tell us who hxrd this walo of charges; was it: not Ilio Lawyers' Association and sonic of lh« legal fraiernity employed by the Court i , J. understand Ilio "respoiuiblo ollicer of the Court" is ;i lawyer, and if J am right ho will view a bill of costs llirotigli his "legnl" spectacles. If a. member, of Hie Auctioneers' Association worn thi> "responsible officer," then (hero wnuld lie sumo logic in his Honour's remarks, and a different tale to fell. A week or so ago a Bishop in Melbourne won ctIOOO damages in a law suit for libel. In receiving a purse of sovereigns from his admirers, he stated that notwithstanding that Ilio other side puiil llin costs aordered by the Judge, the whole of tli3 ,£IOOO disappeared, and you can depend that "the responsible officer of (lie Court" .saw (hat "too much was jiot charged by the solicitors." Not long ago a wellknown lawyer is reported (i> have said that attending to politics reduced his income and that to prove this his accountant had prepared a statement showing that his income, had been reduced by about .£ls,(lo(l'in five years, all through looking after the- welfare of the masses per medium of Parliament. What n martyr! Now 1 have no doubt; that this lawyer's charges in the past were perfectly "legal," as they were subject to the keen inspect inn of that "roponsible officer of the Court." Yet; if the auctioneers form a .similar association (but less profitable) to the Lawyers' Association, they (the. lawyers) have the privilege of holding up their pure hands- in Court and informing an "intelligent" jury and Ilio public that it is an '"unholy alliance," a "trust," a "ring," etc., for fixing a reserve.price of 16s. Gd. on a, case of apples, their own property, while the "responsible officer" allows them (the lawyers) a "reserve price" of"2ls. for a short letter, say, demanding payment of an account. I commend this matter to the thoughtful consideration of humane men like Sir John Pindlay, who took such a sympathetic interest in those suffering persons who came under another "responsible officer of the Court."—l am, etc., TRADER.