Press Release
Press Release
18th March 2006
Queen's Counsel consigned to scrapheap
The Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill was passed by the House of Representatives in this past week, and will shortly become law, after the Governor-General assents to it in the name of The Queen. Senior lawyers who until now have been appointed Queen's Counsel, will now be called Senior Counsel. There is no significant change in the nature of the office except the name change. This appears to have been done as part of the move by certain members of the Government to remove references to the monarchy, without having a popular mandate to do so. The loss of the title Queen's Counsel - which may be used by current holders of the title at their discretion - is to be deeply regretted. We hope that Parliament will, in due course, realise that this form of political manipulation of the legal profession is wrong, and restore the title Queen's Counsel. It is also to be regretted that many of the Members of Parliament who have in the past indicated that they are patriotic and loyal New Zealanders have chosen to remain silent in the face of a serious assault upon our national heritage.
Dr Noel Cox
Chairman, The Monarchist League of New Zealand Inc.