[To the. Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sin,—We English are not a litigious people—although Lord Sankey seems to assume that we are—and there is therefore no need to continue to lengthen simple justice into trade " and to make a lawsuit the most uncertain and most costly undertaking in which an Englishman can be engaged.
The careful review of all new enactments on the Report stage in order to make sure that the intentions of the legis- lature are expressed as clearly and simply as possible, and without conflict between one clause and another, would do much to prevent the vast amount of litigation which results from obscurity of wording. This obscurity often arises from the acceptance of amendments to certain clauses of a Bill without due regard being paid to the bearing of such amend- ments upon other sections of the measure. Even if nothing could be done in the House of Commons the Press might render great service to the country by carefully considering and clarifying all measures which come before them. At the present time, when all three parties seek to catch votes by promoting legislation, the party in power is apt to pride itself rather upon the quantity than upon the quality of its output, with disastrous results to the great body of citizens.
The fusion of the two branches of the legal profession is a question which is raised from time to time, and would be settled very quickly if those who suffer by the costly com- plications of our legal system chose to exert themselves. Un- fortunately, the average Englishman of the taxpaying classes, however bitterly he may complain, rarely troubles to under- stand his grievance, while the lawyers who live very com- fortably on the complications of our legal system can scarcely be expected to point out to their clients that the fusion has worked perfectly well in the Dominions and would work per- fectly well here. If a client chose, he could always employ counsel and pay as high fees as at present; but if he had con- fidence in his solicitor the latter should be allowed to represent him, in case of appeals, through all the Courts right up to the House of Lords.
It is now more than ten years since the War ceased, and if we are ever to get out of the financial slough in which we are at present floundering it will only be by eliminating waste and economizing energy in every direction, and by recognizing that an enormously costly legal ritual which was not inappro- priate when we were the richest people in Europe is quite out of place now that we are the most heavily taxed people in the world.—I am, Sir, &c.,
The Grange, Scarcroft, near Leeds. C. F. RYDER.
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