LAWYERS FOR POOR MEN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1548, 18 September 1912, Page 6

LAWYERS FOR POOR MEN.

BILL BASED ON IMPERIAL ACT. Legislation was introduced b.r Hie Government in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon to provide counsel for prisoners unublo to pay for professional assistance themselves. The Bill, which is in the form of an amendment of the Justices of the. Peace Act, is copied from tiie Imperial law called llio Poor Prisoners' Defence Act. The Minister for Justice explained Hint the Bill had been introduced at the request .of the member for Invcrenrgill Olr. Hanan), and inn Government proposed to place it on the Statute Book this session. The measure proposes that counsel shall be provided at the expense of the State for a person accused of un indictable- offence wsoso means are insufficient to cnablo film to obtain legal aid in the preparation and conduct of his defence, and having regard to the nature of the defence set up by the accused it is desirable in the interests of justice that he should have such aid. Counsel may bo provided by the authority of the Minister for Justice on a certificate issued by justices on the committal of an aroused person tor trial, or counsel may lie assigned to him bv a Judge of the. Supreme Court. Regulations fixing rates of pay for such counsel are to be made by the bovemor-in-Council.