Bill will raise legal aid

Press, 12 August 1980, Page 4

Bill will raise legal aid

PA Wellington Legislation to raise .the minimum defendant contribution to legal aid from $l5 to $25 has been introduced in Parliament. ■■

The contribution, under the. Legal Aid Amendment Bill, can be altered by Order-in-CounCii in future, instead of by statute. Once the legislation is enacted the $25 contribution will apply, unless it is waived on grounds of hardship- . . . Other provisions include: — The approval of the Minister of Justice for the granting of legal aid to an overseasapplicanL ■

— Waiving of the requirement for a Social Security Commission report on the applicant’s income if a means-tested benefit is the sole income.

— The requirement for a legal aid applicant to pay a charge to the Crown if the proceedings concern the recovery of property and are successful. This charge may be waived at the discretion of the legal aid district committee.

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Lange) accused the Government of simply “tinkering” with the legal aid system, when it needed complete revamping.

Fees payable to solicitors were “totally .unremtinerative” and “unrealistic” he said. They had not changed in six years and as a consequence the duty solicitor scheme in Auckland was near collapse. The Law Society, he said, was in favour of overhauling the legal aid system and the Government should do something about it. Mr MoLay assured him that a review of the system would be completed by the end of the year and that the Government would consider possible changes then.