THE Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY MONDAY, AUGUSTS 22, 1881.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 22 August 1881, Page 2

THE Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY MONDAY, AUGUSTS 22, 1881.

Another of Sir George Grey's preci us bantlings has come to appropriate grief in the Upper House, " The Law Practi* tioners Bill '' having been thrown out in that chamber by a large majority. This will lo doubt prove a sorrowful blow to a large class of expectant smatterers, who doubtless saw in the measure a prospect of release from the perils of tbe Vagrant Act, and at the same time a le^al and , genteel means of preying upon a confid* ing and more industrious public. But there is hope yet for respectable Loaferdom; the Great ' Pro« Con/ has intimated his intention of reintroducing the measure under another name, and this will at all events have the effect of keeping it dangling before the eyes of its admirers until the general elections are over. Pr owning men will catch at straws, but it is really surprising to think tbat anyone should imagine tbat there is the smallest possible chance of such a mis« chierous Act becoming law in the Colony. If there is one objection more than another that can be fairly urged against tbe legal profession in New Zealand, it is tbat already it is too easy of access, and if any legislation were neede i on the subject it is clearly in the direction of strengthing rather tl.aa relaxing the barriers at present surrounding it. In one other direction legislation might also be requisite, namely, in fixing the charges of the profession to a more reasonable sca'e than those now demanded. We are ready to admit tbat nothing is more calculated to educate tbe public mind up to the acceptance of and a even demand for a measure such as that proposed by Sir George Grey than the monstrous fees now demanded by professional men for tbe slightest possible service ; but tbe evil is capable of a better remedy than that of admitting to the practice of the law a horde of uneducated, unscrupulous, and utterly untrustworthy persons, who had failed in every other pursuit of life. The profession, so far as its public utility is concerned, is bad enough as it is, but what wpnld be the fate of it if reinforced with the sweepings of all tbe lawyer's offices in the Colony, all the disgraced public cffi-ials, and discarded politicians ? The inevitable result would be that the educated and properly qualified practi* tioner would eventually be crowded out of tbe field, and its privileges would be usurped by a bapd of disreputable black-mailers who, Lee from all the legal restraints and safeguards which now govern the profession, would in the end degrade the practice of the law to the lowest depths. If some friend of the profession and member of tbe House would then only introduce a Bill lo place a fair and reasonable limitation upon lawyer's charges, he would, while conferring an inestimable boon upon the public, save the profession frpm such a possibility of disruption as that proposed by Sir George Grey. In this light, then, it is to be hoped that tbosp who have adopted tbe profession of tbe law will take a hint in time, Sir George Grey's Bill passed the Lower House, and, therefore, but for tbe timely cheek interposed to its further progress by the Council wouid have gained a place upon the statute book of the Colony, In a great way then the destiny of the profession is in the hands of its followers. In so far as they peiseyere in making exorbitant exactions tipon their clients, so far will tbey be paving the way for "Reform" such as that |.ro| osed by Sir George Grey, If the practice of tbe law is lo continue ex.* elusive its privileges must not be abused, and , in no way can they be greater abused than by permitting young aud inexperienced fledglings of the pro'ession 10 heap up their fees upon a scale properly applicable only to veteran Queen's Benchers. With the simplification and cheapening of the processes of our Courts of law must follow a corres* I'OiKiing reduL-licn in professional fees, and if | rufessional gp.jn will not I er;d to ihese conditions they ha»'e as it seems to u« lut one alternative before them. Ii ihp:i the ie .oik'ction of tbe narrow es«

cape of " The Law Practitioners B 11 " will serve as a lighUhou^e to warn the profession of the shoaling wa'er ahead, it will not be without some' , good* effect up»n tbe pockets as well as upon the destiny of those " unborn millions '• (of clients) who are to claim Sir George Grey as their patron saint.