N.Z. to pay court fees

Press, 28 February 1980, Page 6

N.Z. to pay court fees

PA Whangarei An Australian woman refused legal aid by the Australian authorities has been granted aid by New Zealand to fight a maintenance battle against her former husband. The legal proceedings will take place at Whangarei, , where the husband, Mr Em- , est Mitchell has lived since he remarried six years ago. His former wife, Mrs Mavis Mitchell, who lives in Queensland, is not expected to appear at Whangarei. :

The Queensland and Federal Governments in Australia refused to grant Mrs Mitchell legal aid to fight the case, Mr Mitchell said yesterday. But her application . for legal aid from New Zealand was approved by the Minister of Justice (Mr McLay), on January 22, a Government official confirmed in Wellington yesterday. Mr Mitchell is angry. “She has never been a New Zealand citizen, never paid a penny of tax in New Zealand, and now she is get-

ting New Zealand taxpayers’ money for legal aid,” he said. “Many New Zealanders who have paid taxes for years cannot get legal aid. Are we extending the welfare state to Australia?”

According to Mr McLay’s office, a non-resident may apply for aid under New Zealand law if the proceedings will be held in New Zealand. Mr Mitchell ha-s written to his local member of Parliament (Mr J. G. Elliott )to complain.