Help Offered To N.S.W. Typist

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30633, 26 December 1964, Page 13

Help Offered To N.S.W. Typist

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright)

SYDNEY, December 25.

Miss Elizabeth Shepherd, the Parliament House stenographer who has been denied legal aid from the New South Wales Government, yesterday received several offers of help and financial backing.

She said she had received 10 telephone calls, some of them from legal men, offering to act for her. They told her not to worry about not being represented legally during the early stages of the police probe and the likely inquiry. According to Miss Shepherd, each of the callers told her she need have no worry now about lack of financial backing or having to fight alone without the benefit of legal advice. Miss Shepherd said: “I am so happy I could cry. “It is a great relief to know now I have people behind me and that I will be able to answer any questions asked by the police.” Miss Shepherd has made allegations against the Speaker in the State Legislative Assembly, Mr R. S. Maher, in a statutory declaration which is now in the hands of the Government and is the rubject of police inquiries. Her request for immediate legal aid was refused in a letter from the AttorneyGeneral, Mr Downing, on behalf of the Premier, Mr Renshaw. Miss Shepherd said she was more determined than ever

to press her allegations against Mr Maher. “I have never felt so right about anything in my life, and I have nothing to fear.”