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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 16. 12th July 1973

Language

Language

Last Friday a young Maori girl appeared before Mr Scully on a charge of using obscene language in the Bistro Bar of the Royal Oak Hotel. There had been no previous meeting of the defendant and her legal aid counsel, who stood up and cheerily told the Magistrate that "he hadn't met his client yet." So there was a consultation at the back of the courtroom while another case was being heard. It took less than five minutes.

When the case came up the police prosecutor said that the defendant had been ordered out of the bar at 9.15 and had returned and "used the language complained of in a loud voice."

For the defence, counsel said that his client had been in a state of intoxication and had become antagonised on being asked to leave.

Fined $25 and costs. Legal aid lawyers are not noted for herculean efforts on their client's behalf. But anyone who has ever frequented the Bistro Bar would know that any "obscene language" is hardly a great rarity there. What was that old saying about the main crime is getting caught?