SOLICITORS’ TRADE UNION.

Patea Mail, 7 June 1882, Page 2

SOLICITORS’ TRADE UNION.

Three solicitors in Patea were invited to state terms on which each would act as solicitor to the Borough Council. The solicitors conferred, and sent the following joint reply, which put the Council in a fix : —“The terms upon which we should each be willing to act as solicitor to the Corporation are as follow: Annual retainer fee to cover all ordinary opinions not being in writing, or in answer to written questions, £ls 15s. Attendance at the R.M. Court as follows; Matters under the summary procedure of the Court £1 Is ; civil cases where claims are under £2O, £1 Is ; ditto under £3O, £2 2s ; do. under £SO, £3 3s ; do. under £IOO, £4 4s; cases for the Supreme Court and District Court, arbitrations and conveyancing matters to be charged according to arrangement in each matter. We would, however, point out that it is impossible to fix a scale to suit all cases, inasmuch as the value of a solicitor’s services depends upon the intricacy and difficulty of the case, and not upon the amount involved. We think 'the Council would find it safe to rely upon the fairness of the! profession to charge the proper costs in each case, and not more.—(Signed) Gervase D. Hamerton, H. E. P. Adams, Elliott Barton.”

Councillor Adams said lawyers seemed to have formed a combination, and new lawyers should be imported to. burst it up.

Councillor Dixon said it was evident that the lawyers were in compact, and moved that the Council decline to accept the proposal.

The Mayor said the legal expenses of the borough during nine months had been only two guineas for advice. After other remarks, the motion was withdrawn, ( and it wes resolved that the Council make no appointment of borough solicitor at present.