WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1977
EXTENSION OF LEGAL AID TO ALL DISTRICT COURT CRIMINAL CASES LIKELY FROM APRIL 1 NEXT YEAR
*******
A PROPOSAL TO EXTEND LEGAL AID TO ALL CRIMINAL CASES IN DISTRICT COURTS IS LIKELY TO BE IMPLEMENTED FROM APRIL 1 NEXT YEAR.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECENTLY ACCEPTED THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THIS PROPOSED MOVE WHICH IS EXPECTED TO COST AN ADDITIONAL $3.64 MILLION DURING THE FOUR YEARS FROM 1978/79 1981/82.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID LEGAL AID WAS NOW AVAILABLE IN CRIMINAL CASES - SUBJECT TO MEANS TESTED LIMITS OF MONTHLY DISPOSABLE INCOME OF $1,500 AND A DISPOSABLE CAPITAL OF $10,000 AS FOLLOWS:
*
IN ALL CRIMINAL TRIALS IN THE HIGH COURT=
IN ALL CRIMINAL APPEALS TO THE COURT OF APPEAL FROM THE HIGH AND DISTRICT COURTS=
* IN ALL CRIMINAL APPEALS TO THE HIGH COURT FROM THE
MAGISTRATES COURT-
* TO ANY RESPONDENT TO AN APPLICATION BY THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL TO THE COURT OF APPEAL FOR A REVIEW OF SENTENCE- AND
* TO ANY PERSON ACCUSED IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF AN OFFENCE CARRYING A MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF 14 YEARS OR MORE.
-
HE SAID THAT, OUT OF 4,172 ACCUSED IN DISTRICT COURT CASES DURING THE FOUR YEARS PERIOD 1973/74 - 1976/77, 2,156 HAD BEEN GRANTED LEGAL AID. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 6,500 ACCUSED WOULD APPEAR BEFORE THE DISTRICT COURT BETWEEN 1977/78-1981/82, WITH 5,850 OF THEM OBTAINING LEGAL AID.
IT IS NOT EXPECTED AT PRESENT THAT EXTRA STAFF WILL BE NEEDED AS A RESULT OF THE PROPOSED EXTENSION TO THE LEGAL AID SYSTEM.
EMPLOYMENT CHANGES IN SEPTEMBER ***** *
MANUFACTURING EMPLOYMENT SHOWED A SEASONAL DECLINE WHILE EMPLOYMENT IN THE FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES REGISTERED AN INCREASE, ACCORDING TO THE THIRD QUARTER EMPLOYMENT SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
A TOTAL OF 758,300 PERSONS WERE ENGAGED IN MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS AS AT SEPTEMBER 15 - A DECREASE OF ABOUT 17,500 OR 2.3 PER CENT COMPARED WITH 775,800 PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER OF JUNE.
/COMPARED