AN UNUSUAL APPLICATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2164, 13 April 1908, Page 1

AN UNUSUAL APPLICATION.

AN IMPORTANT POINT. Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 11. Ail uncommon application involving an important question in law oihees was made before Mr. Justice Cooper’, when Mr. Fell applied under tho Law Practitioners Amendment Act, 1898, to have Mr. P. Putnam admitted as a barrister ol the Supremo Court. The’ Act, it was stated, entitled d solicitor who had practised for live years, or. who had been managing clerk to a solicitor for five years, to bo admitted as a barrister. The point- at issue was whether the Act was; intended to apply to the case'where a person was managing clerk to a member of the firm and not the whole firm. Mr. Fell contended that Mr. Putnamcame within the Actj»aud was entitled to be admitted because he was managing clerk to Mr. E. Bell, of tho firm of Messrs. Bell, Gully, and Myers, and had charge of all work done by him. Tho work, he said, was not departmental, but general work, and experience gained would bo just as much as if Putnam had been managing clerk of a single solicitor. To make tho Act' workable and fair, Mr. Putnam should bo admitted, otherwise the Act would bo practieallv restricted to managing clerks of" single firms. His Honor expressed tlio opinion that a managing clerk of a firm was a gentleman who represented the firm when, tlio members, of it. were away, and had authority ovor all other .clerks. The* question was an important one, affecting all large firms, throughout New Zealand; that was why liis Honor did not deal with the matter an Chambers. Applicant was given- an opportunity to file affidavits showing tlio class of work he did and the responsibilitieshe had. In the meantime his Honor reserved judgment.