SOUTHLAND CROWN SOLICITOR

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10537, 12 August 1912, Page 4

SOUTHLAND CROWN SOLICITOR

A REPLY TO THE HON F. M. B. FISHER. [Peb, Press Association.] INVERCAKGILL, August 11. Interviewed with reference to the Hon F. >M. B. Fisher's statement in 1 ■the financial debate Mr W. Macalister, Crown Prosecutor at Invercargiil, said that the question was connected with the terms on which he was appointed Crown Solicitor and Crown Prosecutor after the death of the late Crown Prosecutor, Mr T. M. Macdonald, in 1909. Mr Macalister received the following telegram from Sir John Findlay on April 1, 19C9:—"Are you prepared to accept the position of Crown Solicitor and Crown Prosecutor at Invercargiil P" Mr Macalister, after considering the matter, telegraphed accepting the position, and on April 14 received from the Under-Secretary, Mr Waldegrave, ' the Governor's warant appointing him (1) Crown Solicitor, (2) Crown Prosecutor. . Mr Macalister, continued :—"The late Mr Macdonald held the position of solicitor to all Government departments in Invercargiil except the Advances to Settlers, and enjoyed all emoluments, from these departments. In regard to the Government Insurance Department all. work was done by the Crown Solicitor, except that in connection with loans introduced by other recognised solicitors. I took these matters into consideration in accepting the position and expected as a matter of course that having been appointed to succeed Mr Macdonald Crown work which used to be in his hands would conje to my office. Later on I found that" the work of several departments, including the Government Insurance Department, was not coming to me. It has to be remembered.that acceptance of the position of Crown Solicitor and Crown Prosecutor debarred me from any legal work which would be likely to conflict with tho interests 'of the Crown, and which up, to the time of my appointment had been a very considerable part of my practice. I interviewed the Under-Secretary in Wellington,. Mr Waldegrave, and raised objections to the unsatisfactory position in which I was placed, and on July 6, 1910, I received a letter from Mr Waldegrave asking m© to indicate the nature of the Crown work which was not being done in my office. I replied at length _ on July 15, pointing out what I considered my appointment involved in regard to Crown work and claiming to be placed in the same position as my predecessor. I pointed out that for the fifteen months during which I had held the appointment the total emoluments earned for the period were an inconsiderable sum in compari- j son with what I had had to forego 'n order to accept tho position. I also pointed out that as matters stood the Crown solicitor was getting a certain amount of miscellaneous work involving a great deal of labour, while other Crown work which would in a measure make up for the more poorly paid work was being done elsewhere. It was not altogether a question of fees. I considered that I was appointed to the position rendered vacant by Mr Macdonald's death, and I expected the terms of my appointment to be carried out. Later on I received information that all the work of the Government Insurance Department would be done in the Crown Solicitor's office. If the work was restricted entirely to my office, and if outside solicitors are not receiving the same consideration that they had previously received, it is not of my asking, nor did I expect it. I have no desire to be treated any more favourably than my predecessors. I clearly expected that my appointment as Crown Solicitor would carry the work of the departments, otherwise I certainly would not have accepted the position. I claim to have been appointed to the position and emoluments pro viously held by Mr Macdonald as solicitor for the Government departments, and the Government admitted the validity of my claim. The removal of the restriction I have referred to will make very little difference to me, and I did not object to its removal." In reply to a question Mr Macalister said I hat he had never taken any active part in politics. His closest connection with nolitics was being a shareholder and director in the " Southland Times,'' which had ail along been in opposition to the Ward Government.