A CROWN PROSECUTOR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 72, 12 August 1912, Page 5

A CROWN PROSECUTOR.

MR. FISHER'S CHARGES. MR. McALISTER EXPLAINS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargill, Last Night. Interviewed with reference to Mr. Fisher's statement in the financial debate, Mr. McAlister, Crown Prosecutor, Invercargill, _said that the question was connected with .the terms in which lie was appointed Crown Solicitor and Crown Prosecutor. After the death of the late Crown Prosecutor, Mr. T. M. Mac Donald, in 1900, Mr. McAlister recoived the following wire from the Hon. Dr. Findlay, on April 1., 1900:—"Are you prepared to accept the position of Crown Solicitor and Grown Prosecutor at Invercargill v» Mr. McAlister, after considering the matter, wired accepting the position, and on April 14 received from the Under-Secretary, Mr. Waldegrave, the Governor's warrant appointing .him (1) Crown Solicitor, (-2) Crown Prosecutor. Mr. McAlister continued: "The late Mr. Mac Donald held the position of solicitor to all the Government Departments in Invercargill except Advances to Settlers Department, and enjoyed all the emoluments from these departments. In regard to the Government Insurance Department all the 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. Mac Donald the Crown work which used to be in his hands woui'll 1 come 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 (lie acceptance of the position of Crown Solicitor and Crown Prosecutor debarred me from any legal work which would be likely to conflict with the interests of the CrownJ and which, up t-o the time of the 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 me 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 comparison with what I had had to forego in order to accept the position. I also pointed out that as the matter stood the Crown Solicitor was getting a certain amount of miscellaneous work, involving a great deal of labor, while other Crown work which would in a measure make up for the more poorly paid work, was being done elsewhere. It was (hjot (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 intimation 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, it is not of my asking. Nor did I Expect it. I have no desire to be treated any more favorably than my predecessor was. I clearly expected that my appointment as Crown Solicitor would carry the work .of the depart: ments, otherwise I certainly would not have accepted the position. I claim to have been appointed to the position and emoluments previously ilield by Mr. MacDonald, ns 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."

Tn reply to a question, Mr.'McAlister said that ho had never taken any active part in polities. His closest connection with politics was being a shareholder and director in the Southland Times; which had all along been in opposition to the Ward Government.