ECONOMY IN CROWN LAW COSTS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13740, 23 May 1910, Page 7

ECONOMY IN CROWN LAW COSTS.

OFFICES ABOLISHED IX WELLING iON. (press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, May 21. At a meeting ot' Cabinet tins week, if was decided to appoint -Mr Thomas Neave, 11L.D., barrister at law, of Weiliugton, as ono of the assistant ' law othcers of the Crown. This appointment terms part ot the important alterations in tho organisation of the work of the Crown lav ottaco which nre now in progress Hitherto, that work has consisted chiefly in advice to the Government ana to tno officers of the various Departments of tho public service, lho litigation of the Crown, both civil and criminal, and conveyancing matters in which the Crown has been concerned, have been dealt with almost exclusively b>- the Crown Prosecutor in Welhngteu and partly by other solicitors. The legal costs for this work, as it is of a very extensive character, have been very great, and ihe Government is determined that as early as possible all legal work of the Crown in Wellington shall bo subject to. and performed by the Crown law,office. There are available for this n-ork the services of tfto AUorney-Gtmeral (the. Hon. Dr. *indlav K.C.), the Solicitor-Genoral (Mr ealmoiul), «nd the assistant law officers of the Crown, Mr Redwood Mr Ostler, and Mr Neavc, together with any further assistance.which -experience niay show is necessary. ■ . It is not intended-to attempt to .centralise the Crown., law work of tho whole Dominion in Wellington, but the effective equipment of the Crown Uw ««ice under -ths» new «™^ e me»t_ .nil make a continuance of the P.rt»ej» Crown Prosecutor and Crown Sokitors offices in Wellington an unnecessary and expensive duplication. The Minister of Justice (Hon. _Dt. Findlav) approached by a "New Zealand' tiniefi , ' representative to eecur* further details of this important innovation, was asked if it would apply to Crown Prosecutors and Solicitors other than in Wdliagton. Dr. /'ndlay s ansver was that oiiteide Wellington these- officers would continue to do Crown law work, properly local in character. Tho Crown law officers of Wellington would, however, where it was expedient, take part in the more important litigation wherever it may arise, the aim of the scheme being public economy. . ■ . "The fundamental alteration required by the scheme will take place in Wellington," explained Dr. Findlay, "and will necessitate the abolition of the tirescnt offices of Crown Prosecutor, and' Crown Solicitor. The duties of these" offices, so far as they are statutory, will be performed by due or other of the Crown law officers. It may possibly happen, especially during the stress of work thrown upon the Crown law office during the final months of the session, thot some legal work may require to be given to outside practitioners. The anwmnt of this will be, for reasons of economy, kept down as far as possible, and such work will bo distributed among the legal p-ofession in such -manner as will best meet the needs of each particular case." "And what will be the saving ?''

The Minister was not, of course, able to prophesy in actual figures, but ho pointed out that from a reference to expenditure under thft present system, and making a fairly liberal estimate of the cost of the new arrangement, a saving of many thousands a year would ■undoubtedly be effected without in any way impairing the efficiency of tho legal work of the Crown.

"Will the new arrangement result in the head' ( of the Crown Law Department, the Attorney-General, appearing in the Courts?" Dr. Findlay was asked. He replied in the affirmative. "Of course," he said, "as Attorney-General for the Government, I will appear in the more important cases which I hay© time to take."