Attorney-General’s office 'reduced’

Press, 25 September 1978, Page 20

Attorney-General’s office 'reduced’

PA Wellington The office of Attorney-: General has ben reduced toj "nothing more than a political lackey” by the activities j of the present encumbent, Mr I Wilkinson, according to thej Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling). The position of Attorney- ’ General in the New Zealand’ political context was an• extremely delicate and sensi-l tive one, Mr Rowling said at Upper Hutt. "He stands as chief lawi officer of the Crown, to pro- 1 tect the system of justice from abuse.” In the British Parliament, that special position was recognised because the j Attorney-Geneal did not sit in the Cabinet and could be I seen by the public to stand ’ apart from obvious political I activity. “Here in the small New 1 Zealand Parliament the i Attorney-General is a member of the Cabinet, usually, holding other portfolios as well,” Mr Rowling said. “There is no problem when that office is held by people with experience and standing within the legal fraternity.

“We can look back at sue-' jeessive Attorneys-General ’ and see men who have appreciated to the full the unique 'and special responsibility of ’their office and who nave' jcherished the legal system iwithin which they have spent much of their working lives. i th ( e P reser ! t meumbent „ has brok ® n that tradition, Mr Rowling declared. “In my view, the activities of the present AttorneyGeneral to date have reduced his proud and important office to nothing more than a political lackey,” Mr Rowling said. “Political considerations have been placed above the rule and status of the l aw ’ “I did not think that this jsituation could arise.”

Mr Rowling said it was time serious consideration was given to reviewing the discretionary powers that the jAttorney-General held in relation to the courts, Earlier, Mr Rowling was sharply critical of the Attorney-General’s stopping the remaining prosecutions in the Bastion Point affair, „„, accused the Govei n"I L. c le^ p X ihTr Unit> Il I'r Go \ e .' 1 1 '" B®" 1 * earlier handling of the I s ™ an n t J l l "f.. in of s J’UPerannuatton scheme, br ’ u e ht into question he role and attitude of the Present Attorney-General, Mr 'Rowling said.