GOVERNMENT LAW WORK.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1516, 12 August 1912, Page 4

GOVERNMENT LAW WORK.

A- .... i THE POSITION AT INVERCARGIU, STATEMENT BY THE CROWN , SOLICITOR. (By Telegraph.—Press Association,) Invercar&ill, August 11. Interviewed in reference to Mr. Fisher's statement in tho financial debate, Mr. M'A lister, Crown Prosecutor at Invercargill, said that tho question was connected willi tlio terms on which ho was appointed Crown Solicitor and Crown Prosecutor. After tho death of tho lata Crown Prosecutor (Mr. T. M. Macdonald) in 1909, Mr. M'Alistcr received tho following wire from tho Hon. Dr, Fiudlay on April 1, 1909:— "Aro you prepared to accept the position of Urown Solicitor and Crown Prosecutor at lnvcrcargillf" Mr. M'Alister, alter considering tho matter, wired accepting tho position, and on April U received from tho Undor-Scc-roiary (Mr. Waidegrave) the Governor's warrant appointing him (1) Crown Solicitor, (2) Crown Prosecutor. Mr. M'Alister continued: "The late Mr. Macdonald held the position of Solicitor to nil Government Departments in Invcrcargill, except the Advances to Settlors, and enjoyed all Iho emoluments from these Departments. In regard to tho <iovernment Insurance Department, all work was done Ly the Crown Solicitor, except that in connection with loans introduced by other recognised solicitors. 1 took theso matters into consideration in accepting the position, and expected, as a matter of course, that, having lioen appointed to succeed Mr., Maadonald, tho Crown work which, used to bo in his hands would come to my office 1 . Later on, 1 found that tho work of several Departments, including tho Government Insurance Department, was not coining to me. It has to bo remembered'that the acceptance of tho position of Crown. Solicitor arid Crown Prosecutor debarred me from any legal work which would bo likely to eonilict with tho interest of tho Oro'wn, ' and which up to the time of appointment had been a very considerable part of my practice. I interviewed the Under-Secre-tary in Wellington (Mr. Waidegrave) and raised objections to the unsatisfactory position in which I was placed, and on July G, 1910, I leoeived a letter from Mr. Waidegrave asking mo to indicate the Mature of tho Crown work which was not being done in my office. I replied at longth on July 15, pointing out what I considered my appointment involved ill regard to Crown work, and claiming f o be placed in the same position as nty predecessor. I pointed out t that for tho fifteen months during which I had held tho appointment tho total emoluments earned for the period were an inconsiderable sum in comparison with what I had had to forego in ; order to accept .the position. I also pointed out that as matters stood the Crown Solicitor was gett'ug a certain amount of miscellaneous work involving a good deal of labour, while otheT Crown work which would in a measure make np 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. tho position rendered vacant by Mr. Mncil'uisud'H death, and I expected the tenns of my appointment to bo carried on. Later on I received intimation that all the work of the Government Insurance Department would be done in tho Crown Solicitor's office, If the work was restricted entirely to my office, and if outside_solicitirs aro not receiving the same consideration that they had previously, it 13 not of my asking nor did I expect it. I have m dwite to bo treated any more favourably than my predecessor. I clearly expected tlat my appointment as Crown Solicitor would carry the work of tho Departments, otherwise I certainly would'not have accepted tho position. I claim to have, been an. pointed to tlie position and emoluments previously-held by-Mr.- Macdonald as solicitor for tho Government Departments, and the Government admitted tho validity of. my claim. Tho removal of tho restriction" I have referred to will mtke very little- difference to mo, and 1 did uot object to its removal." In reply to a question, Mr. . M'Alister said that" ho had never taken any active part in politics. His closest connection with politics was being a shareholder mil director in the "Southland Times," which had all along been in opposition to the Ward Government.