LAWYERS FOR POOR MEN.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10713, 19 September 1912, Page 3

LAWYERS FOR POOR MEN.

BILL BASttl) ON IMPERIAL ACT. —i"^TM^' ,w * ww *"" w *'"' , *™ liy ***'' , "^**^ ,V " t " w '<* , "^•' " Legislation "if;»s inrroaumi by tn« Government in the House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon to provide council for prisoners unable 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 • . the Imeprial law called the Poor j Prisoners' Defence Act. The min- ; ister for Justice explained that the i bill lm<l boon introduced at the ..re- , quest of the member for Invereargill j (Mr Hanan). and the Government proposed to place it on the Statute Book this session. The measure pro- J poses that counsel shall be provided at j the expense of the State for a person accused of an indictable offence whose means are insufficient to enable him to obtain legal aid in the preparation and conduct of defence. nn<l having \ regard to the nature of the dofonce set up by the accused it is desirable in the interests of justice that lie (should have such aid. Counsel may be provided by the authority of the j minister for justice on a certificate ,

issued by justices on the commit.il of an accused person for trial, or council may be assigned to him by a Judge of the Supreme Court. Regulations fixing rates of pay for such cotm-sel are to be made by the G-over-nor-in-Council.