Sir: The philosophy which underlies the claim by Lord Mackay,
the Lord Chancel- lor, that public funds can be preserved by cutting out 'unnecessary administration' is surely admirable. Where it falls down, how- ever, is when the cutting out of unnecessary administration is used as a cloak for intro- ducing fees of such a derisory amount (after taking account of a lawyers' adminis- trative expenses) as to make it impossible for most and perhaps all lawyers to contin- ue to undertake legal aid work. In short, the weak clients, the majority, are to be allowed to go to the wall.
Lord Justice Mathew is reported to have said before the last war that 'in England, justice is open to all — like the Ritz Hotel'. It is that state of affairs which the Lord Chancellor's reforms threaten to restore.
Stanley Best
Portsmouth Barristers' Chambers, Victory House, 7 Bellevue Terrace, Southsea, Portsmouth,
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