THE MINISTERIAL VISIT

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10665, 21 June 1912, Page 5

THE MINISTERIAL VISIT

HON. J. A. HANAN ENTERTAIM—

The Hon. J. A. Hunan', Minister of Justice, was entertained at luncheon, at t!he« Olub Hotel yesterday by 'Mio Wairarapa -branch of the Law Society. The chair was occupied by •Mr W. iG. Bealxl (President of the 'branch),' who had t3ie Minister and •Mr L. G. Beid, S.M., on his right, and the Mayor and member for ih& district (Mr G. R. Syies) on his left. Gica- twenty legal gentlemen and representatives of (public bodies were present. A,ptfr)g:cs were rec?ived from Mr W. G. Buchanan, M.P.. 'and several representatives of the I Bar in the "Lower Valley and Fortv Mile Bush. *, ■ After justice had been done to ant ■excellent luncheon, the .'toast of "The--King" was drunk in .bumpers. Mr W. G. Beard then proposed the toast of the Hon. J. A. Hanati in. a •neat and appropriate speech. The Minreter, m responding, said lie was grateful for t!he. compliment 'which Avas paid to him by the legal fratenrJjty. The profolsdon an New 'Zealand, he eaid, compared very favtouraMy With' tihwt of other countries. 'Some people were of opinion- that the •legal profession was a close' corpora:tJon. That was not so in' New Zealand. Here the profession wa's opea to ,th,t boy of the poorbs* parentis.. Some cf the most em-men* legal men Mn -the Bominson Had .sprung ifnom the •■ranks. Mr Haran referred to the facilities provided in t3ie Dominion for secondary education and matriculation. He afeo spoke of the fread-inees cf the legal profession" to«fi#,t for (the- Constitution. and ifor lib<arty. The OonstOt.ut&on of pea-haps the 'most de-miocratic country in- tha'world (the Australian Commonwealth) Uiad ,been prepared by lawyers. The Might Hon. H.H. Asquith and the 'Bight.Beta, L\ LloydnGeorge were both'members of th,e profession. Ifc •was a eUanekr on the profession to ' bay tohat it had no sympathy with demooriatic mcvcmenits. Tlhe Hon. W. P. Reeves, who had foamed the firsfe .'laboir leg.is?ation»:!n the Dominion, "Hvafl trained as a lawyer. Mr Hanan proceeded to say that c'n some res-r. 'pc-rt.s the legal prcfersiob set an example to Parliament. When' tiho bat•tles had feceir fought in the Court, all pzr ona.l fe&ling •wan dropped ibetween counsel which 2:ad- been engaged. The Minister thought a mistake had been •made an afcolisiiS'tig the 'system of ar*ifl l ing law • etudcats. Althdngh he did not .believe in, high premiums, he lthx>ug&t a ,pe.ri<7d Cf aippreiitioeehip was necess-ary. Mn J Han an- paid a tribute, to -the Magisterial benich, ami siaid .thait in Now Zealand it- was free Ifrom disteat aand every suspicion of corruption. (Hidar; hoar.) If they 'wenai to have good men oil the' Bench, however, they "moist- ;ay them good .salaries. At prcßenit a difficulty was experienced in prooming the seiVices of gocd men. If they waarfced brains *liey wolild Jiav© to pay for them, and he espre-'aaed the hiope that tha {salaries of Magisita'ates wotild sihortly fee increased. (Bear,> hear.) Speaking; df kgiislation a«-,it affcated "the leagl p-rblteisr'ion-, ■Mr■■ Ha' San said they would;.require to fcririg seine of their" 1 lActs. into fine Iwoth those <tf Great Britaia. He i-E!i.tflr.«ed tJie Comiyan.ies' Aofc,,,.th.D Baiiihruptcy Act, and Hhs Ct-pyriglAg Aot. The method of •nuakih-g appeal f-r'om Magistrates and ■ eh'sill r,Vo ibe s'anrah'fied. Ia irc&a'cr.ice to cfcinre ifc4- •ccm.penßation: wndor.th'o -PidVJ-c Works Act, it should ibs ccmpotca.t fcr.-any Supreme OcnirtJudge to Eiear tfocis-e. He would like 'also to see a little mere done in the •Avay c>f assinKjlrtting some eif .the laws ■cf iNew Zcadand mih those c"f AxisiGreclxlr uniformity was reqrared. The Mirfetor ex.pr'ecsed the hepo thait .the admirl'sitiration erf t3i& ■Depaartimcttdtfi' of Ju'stico, ESocoiiion, and Defence wouid fee placed on a. ihigiher plemie than, tlrat .c'f ,pa.nty, eo ■that'they wcJuld reo&ive that corPs-ider-ait&cin whidi ibheir impca'fcarjc© deserv-' ed. (A,pplaai©e.) In ccanciiisicm, Mr Hiaa-an .pnomised to provide shelves- i» the law library at tie mew ' Courthouse, . amid 'again 'thanked the profcGsicn' felr the honour "ttoae him and ililio 'kindjy feeliaigs expireissed. (Ap(plliusc).

Other itocists were hbrjemred as foTtews:— "P'arliniinent," .proposed by Br .Trimible, n'espaliided to by Mr G. !R. Sykes, M.P.; "The Legal Pi'ofe'&ion)" pjropc&ed- by .the Mayor, respofneted to by Mr A. It. Bunaey; "The Press," proposed by Mr T>. K. ■(Logan, xespCiiKled to by Mr A. It. Vile.