COURT OF APPEAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2594, 16 October 1915, Page 13

COURT OF APPEAL

A SOLICITOR'S CASE. The Court of Appeal yesterday was occupied with llio Jioaring of an application by the New Zealand Law Society to liavo W. G. Somerville, barrister and solicitor, of Taumarimui, struck off the roll. The Bench was occupied by their Honours Mr. Justice Denniston, Mr. Justico Cooper, and Mr. Justice Chapman. Mr. A. Gray, K.C., with him Mr. D. R. Hoggarclj appeared in support of the apjilication, whilo Mr. M. Myers appeared for the defendant. The application was based on the fact that in January last .Somerville was convicted by the Magistrate at Taumarumii for a breach of the Licensing Act in the previous December. At that time Somerville was under suspension, and was carrying on business at Taumanmui as a Native agent and land agont. ,Taumartmui is in the King Country, and importation of liquor into that locality was prohibited, except under special conditions. In Jamiary he was prosecuted by the police for having kept liquor for sale in December, 1914. Ho was' convicted on that charge and fined £50, with tho alternative of three months' imprisonment. The fine was paid. The Law Society suggested that sufficient grounds arose out of tho prosecution to justify Somervillo's Temoval from the roll. Affidavits wero filed by the society, and these were replied to by Somerville. Legal argument had not conoluded at 4.30 p.m. yesterday, and the further bearing of the application was adjourned until Monday.