the Annual General Meeting for substantial increases in Members' Subscriptions.
MEMBERSHIP
As at 31st December 1967 the membership of the Association consisted of:
Members
Associate Members
44
35
Total 79
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN THE COURTS (1) Evidence
Part of the strength of the Common Law system lies in its flexibility. This means that many of its rules are not prescribed by statute and are to be found in the good sense and integrity of all concerned including practititoners. It has come to the notice of the Bar Committee that there is a tendency for civil actions on apparently simple issues to be dragged out at inordinate length. The responsibility for this often rests with counsel. This is to be deplored.
Part of counsel's duty to the Court is to ensure that litigation is conducted swiftly and efficiently. This duty is always present, whatever the interests of any particular client might be. It is an abuse of the functions and privileges of the Bar for counsel to prolong proceedings unnecessarily, and where this is done in order to cloud the real issues or to put pressure on an opposing party, this may constitute pro- fessional misconduct.
The Bar Committee has further noted that often, under the guise of cross-examination as to credit, irksome and embarrassing questions are asked of witnesses. Cross- examination is a powerful and valuable weapon for the pur- pose of testing the veracity of a witness and the accuracy and
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