COURT OF APPEAL

Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1930, Page 5

COURT OF APPEAL

(By Telegrapn—Per Press Association.* WELLINGTON, March 28. Proceedings brought by tbe New Zealand Law Society against George Mackay, solicitor, of Wellington, for having failed to have his trust account audited up to 31st March, .1929, came before the Court of Appeal this morning. Mr Von Haast, who appeared with Mr Free for the Law Society, said the Court would see from the affidavits that the practitioner had failed to have his trust accounts audited and had been fined £SO for such. The Law Society communicated with him and .lie promised to have the audit undertaken, but took no steps until about the commencement of the present session of the Court of Appeal. The audit had now been filed, but only up to the thirty-first of March last.

The Chief Justice here pointed out that under the Law Practitioners Amendment (Solicitors Fidelity Guarantee Fund) Act the Law Society had power to insist on the audit up to date.

1). M. Findlay, who represented Maokay, said he understood Mackay had done practically nothing lor some months [last. The amount to the credit of he rust account at tbe thirty-first of March last was £2 8s Bd. It as quite well known that lie had not been attending to his practice and his neglect to reply to the Law Society’s requisition was in accordance with this neglect of the whole of his work. The Auditor had recently informed him that everything aas now in order. Air Findlay requested that the Court should deal with he matter immediately and dispose of it as Mackay was practically out of practice.

The Chief. Justice remarked that it was a most serious neglect, censurable in the highest degree. He .‘aid the Court would indicate its new of the matter on Moiulav or Tuesday next.