TOO MANY LAWS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1932, Page 2

TOO MANY LAWS

LORD MACMILLAN’S VIEWS. MR JUSTICE M’CARDIE AND THE WOMAN AGED 32. LONDON, June 5. Lord Macmillan speaking at the dinner of tne Society cf Incorporated Accountants and Auditors at the Guildhall last night, sa.d that if commerce and industry weie not enjoying a full measure of prosperity, it was not because the world wag poor, or because men had lost their ability and capacity, but because somehow the machinery of their administration and their exchanges had become jammed. “It is only a matter of arrangement and adjustment of the. mechanism to put the machine right, and therefore we can cherish the thought that the depression tnrough which we are passing is only a phase in an evolution of an even greater prosperity in the future.

“There are some who think that the legislative side of the law has been too active, In the 12 years between 1919 and 1930 Parliament has passed 732 Acts which fill 8106 pages. In law, a citizen is presumed to know the lawj and, in another place at another time; I shall announce that with due solemnity. The man who knows all the law must be a very good citizen indeed.

“Still, we are not so lind as America, I am told that they have passed 62,000 Statutes in the last five years, True they do not pay quite so much attention to them.”

PROFIT AND LOSS. Sir Thomas Inskip -.said that from time to time he had' been invited to direct bis attention to the activity of certain people who had used or misused the, Company Acts for the manipulation of companies for their own profit and other people’s loss. He had been invited to consider whether fresh leg'isl'at-ion was not necessary to circumscribe their activities. “I believe the mere multiplication of enactments is not a proper remedy for such evils that may exist. It is only a year or two ago since the last Company Act was passed. Whatever mistakes there may be in the Act, whatever shortcomings there may have been in the deliberations of Parliament, the proper remedy is a higher standard of honour.”

COMPARATIVE VALUES. Mr Justice McCardie, responding for the guests, recalled a story about Ben Davies, the famous tenor, who was once playing golf. Someone went up to the caddie and said, “Is that the famous Ben Davies?”’ The caddie replied, “Well, it’s Ben Davies, but he’s not famous, Ida handicap is 24.” Another story told by Mr Justice McOfU'die nils of ft vigorous young counsel who cross-examined a woman. He said “What is your age?” and she replied, “Thirty-two, sir.” He said, “But I cross-examined you five years ago, and you said your age then was 32.” The woman replied, “Yes sir, I probably cud, but I am not the sort of girl, I would have, you understand, who says one thing on one occasion and another on another occasion.”. An accountant to-dny, added Justice McCardie, was not only a mere expert in figures. He was half a lawyer, if not three-quarters. He, was a guardian, a custodian, and a watchman and a great trustee of the public interests.