CROWN PROSECUTOR

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 July 1936, Page 16

CROWN PROSECUTOR

OFFICE . KEENLY SOUGHT.

The post of Crown Prosecutor at Wellington, which is vacant because of the death of Mr. P. S. K. Macassey, is being sought by many applicants (says “The Dominion”). It-does not carry a fixed salary. The office at Wellington is,' in fact, less attractive than at other centres, because of the Crown Law Office being situated there. In other main centres, a considerable amount of valuable work falls to the Crown Prosecutor in addition to the ordinary criminal prosecutions. As solicitor in proceedings or trials of indictable offences other than for crimes punishable by death, the Crown Prosecutor receives in every separate trial three guineas for preparing the case. This fee covers all charges in connection with the preparation of the indictment,'issue .of subpoenas, procuring and issue of process to bring witnesses into custody, entry -of nolle prosequi and' all other directly connected with or incidental to the trial. As.counsel in the same proceedings or trials, the Crown Prosecutor receives for each separate trial three gipneas and, where an accused pleads guilty after indictment, one guinea. The guinea, fee also obtains where the Crown'declines to offer any evidence or 1 enters a nolle prosequi without evidence being given in support of its case.

Summarised, this amounts to six guineas minimum a criminal trial. On a new -trial by disagreement of the jury, or for -any other reason, no additional. solicitor’s fee is allowed, blit -counsel’s fees are allowed' according to scale.

In trials where the accused is liable to the death sentence, in lieu of the solicitor’s and counsel’s fees set out, a Crown Prosecutor receives an inclusive fe of seven guineas a day at thd trial and at the preliminary investigation. A like fee ’is paid for. each full day occupied in preparing for the trial or for the preliminary investigation. A Crown Prosecutor in cases of prisoners who’ plead guilty in the Lower Court to indictable offences, receives a ghinea for each prisoner irrespective of tjhe number of charges. There is no increase in the fee where more than one prisoner is committed for sentence on the one information or as the result of the one preliminary hearing.

Other counsel briefed by the Crown to defend accused persons at trials where the offence is punishable by death receive five guineas daily and a like fee for each full day (hot. exceeding five) occupied in preparing for the trial. If appearing at a preliminary hearing-a counsel so briefed receives five guineas daily for each day necessarily occupied. Though the absence of Crown Law work deprives the Wellington office of Crown Prosecutor from the pecuniary gain obtaining in other cities and centres, there is a distinct advantage from the viewpoint of prestige’attaching to the holder of the position. This can have a most beneficial effect on a Crown Prosecutor’s private practice, and invariably the various prosecutors throughout New Zealand have a large clientele. It is not surprising therefore that the post now vacant at Wellington is eagerly sought. The appointment is made by the Government.