THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 14285, 1 February 1907, Page 7

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL.

APPOINTMENT OF KING’S , COUNSEL. i THE LAND CAMPAIGN. The Hon Dr . Findlay, the AttorneyGeneral, was engaged in Exhibition and departmental business yesterday. He will have charge of the Exhibition probably for eight or ten days. Speaking to a “Lyttelton Times” reporter yesterday, the Minister mentioned the regulations recently gazetted in regard to the appointment of King’s Counsel in New Zealand. “ 1 hold the opinion ve;. strongly that the Government should as far as possible recognise distlnguisncd service at the bar,” he said. “In a general sense every barrister is a public servant, because bo discharges a very important function in the administration of jne-icc. and where a lawyer has won distinction at the bar it is in the interests of the public that his character should be recognised by some definite distinction. Tue honour of being appointed a King's Counsel involves disabilities. The barristers who- arc made King’s Counsel are prohibited from appearing in the superior courts without a junior .counsel, whb must not be connected with the office to which the King’s Counsel belongs. Moreover, lie cannot appear in any lower court without a special retainer, which is fixed at a fee rarely paid for appearance in the lower courts. In all the other Australasian colonies King’s Counsel have been appointed, and New Zealand is tbc last colony to offer the distinction. 1 am making inquiries from the other colonies as to tho number of King’s Counsel appointed in each colony, and the Government will bo guided to sc-me extent by what has been done in Australia. Of course the number will bo small. The regulations provide that the distinction may not be conferred without the concurrence of the Chief Jus Ace, and he will not consent except in the case of acknowledged leaders of tho bar.” In answer to a question regarding the Land Bill, Dr Findlay s: id chat ho proposed to take the platform at a later date and assist the other members of tho Government in meeting tho crideism that had been levelled at the Land Bill. The Minister of Lands, the Hon R. M’Nab, was doing such splendid work at tho present time that he required no help. “ Before Parliament meets.” said the Minister, “I propose, to take my share of explaining from the public platform our view® of the Laud Bill and our answer- to the criticism to which it has been subjected.” Tho Minister mentioned that in his capacity as acting head of the Pest and Telegraph Department, he had still to deal with a considerable number of promotions and transfers. Flo would d-al with these on his return to Weli.ugton.