A COMPLAINT

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 129, 4 June 1927, Page 10

A COMPLAINT

PRISONERS AND COUNSEL

FACILITIES FOR INTERVIEWS

Complaint regarding the lack of proper facilities^ for interviewing prisoners afforded counsel in Wellington was made by Mr. B. J. Dolan in the Magistrate's Court to-day. , , . . . '

"Wellington is the worst .situated city in the Dominion in this respect," said Mr. Dolan. "It is impossible to interview prisoners with any facility." At the Police Station, he continued, there was no special room in which lawyers cc-iild talk to their clients, and at the old gaol on The Terrace the room used was provided with an ear-hole—-or rather, an eye-hole—which was really the same thing. Prisoners should be able to have a free and unfettered consultation with their counsel. Mr. E. Page, S.M.: "I£ you will submit your complaint in writing, Mr. Dolan, I shall refer ij to the authorities." Senior-Sergeant Lander: "Counsel are given every possible facility to interview their clients at the Police Station, and may remain with them as long as they reasonably care to" do so."

Mr. Dolan: "Senior-Sergeant Imndor has often given up his own office to me I have no complaint to make about the police officers; they have given me every assistance. . It is the lack of proper accommodation to which I refer. The Magistrate: "If you make a written complaint I will see that it is placed before the proper authorities."

Mr. Dolan:"Thrmk you, Sir."