SUPREME COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 129, 18 February 1918, Page 7

SUPREME COURT

DR. M'KINNON'S REGISTRATION,

, On Saturday in the Supreme Court, before His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), the case of John Alexander. M'Kimibn, of Christchurch, who is applying for an order directing the Registrar-General to register his name -under the provisions of the Medical Practitioners Act, was further considered. The case originally catiio beforo Mr,. Justice Hosking in October last, when it was shown that the Regis-trar-General had refused the application for registration, acting under the 'direction of the Medical Board.

Dr. M'Kinnon's affidavit set out his qualifications, and asserted that all the requirements' of the Act had been complied witli by him and that he was a man of "good fame and character." ' A preliminary pbint of law waa raised, and on this point Mr. Justice Hosking reserved judgment, which has riot yet'been delivered: In the meantime Mr. C. V. Skerrett, K.C., who with Mr. W. J. Hunter, of Christchurch, is appearing for the appellant, has raised additional _ points. On Saturday there was considerable discussion between Bench and Bar as to the correct procedure. The Solicitdr-General, who is representing the in answer to His Honour's inquiry as to the nature of the charge against the appellant, stated that M'Kiniion was formerly a clerk in the Customs Department at Christchurch, and he was extradited from Britain for the purpose of answering charges concerned with an elaborate Customs fraud. M'Kinnori was acquitted. His Honour: Well, the question is whether the acquittal settles the .question of fame, arid that is a question of law. It was finally agreed that it would be better to refer the whole matter for tho consideration of the Full Court, and His Honour made an order accordingly. An order was made for each side to prepare the necessary affidavits within three weeks, and aii endeavour is to lie made to hear the case before the Easter vacation. .