A Hindu Lawyer.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1921, Page 1

A Hindu Lawyer.

ADMISSION OPPOSED. WELLINGTON. July 8. Thu Full Court was unsaved this morning hearing an application lor admission a,s a barrister and solicitor by Air Manilal, a Hindu. Mr P. J. O’Rcgan appeared in support of the application, and Mr H. I*. Richmond for the Auckland District l aw Society, which opposed the application. Air O’Regan said that the case was the first of its kind which had come before the Court in Now Zealand. Air Afanilal was. he said, born in the feudatory state of flared a. Tie was a barrister of the Middle Temple, and was entitled to practise in Mauritius. TTo was also still on the roll of barristers and solicitors of Fiii.

Tn reply to a question from the Bench, Air O’Rcgnn said he assumed that Air Afanilal was a British subject, but in any case tji„ Law. Practitioners’ Act did not provide that a barrister or solicitor must he a British subject. The only mark against. Air Afanilal was the order made against him last year that lie must not reside in certain parts of Fiii. Air O’Regan contended that if AB- Afanilal was admitted to practice the effect would he good among Hindus or other parts of the British Fm-

pire. Air Richmond said that the objection of the society to Afr Afanilnl’s admission was not on the ground that he was a Hindu. The objection was on the ground of personal character. The Society, ho said, had grounds for doubting whether Air Afanilal was of the fitness and character, essential to enable him to practise and the society had grounds for believing that Afr Afanilal had not been a loyal subject. The Court reserved decision.