Quinn Paul: Lawyers and Conveyancers Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Quinn Paul: Lawyers and Conveyancers Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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PAUL QUINN (National) 
: 
 It gives me great pleasure to rise to speak in support of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Amendment Bill. I agree with the previous speaker Charles Chauvel to the extent that the second part of this bill is excellent legislation. I disagree with him in respect of the first part of the legislation and his comments relating to the reinstatement of Queen’s Counsel. 
I will spend my contribution to the debate sharing with the House my experiences from a practical point of view. I know that dear old Charles has his own views. I had better call him Charles Chauvel before someone raises a point of order but I am sure he will not mind me calling him Charles. 
Hon Nathan Guy 
: He might like Sir Charles. 
PAUL QUINN 
: Sir Charles yes. I know that he has his point of view but I guess that is partly driven by the fact that he will never reach the dizzy heights of becoming a Queen’s Counsel. I do not think he has the capability. I guess there is a bit of sour grapes in his reflections. He quoted Jack Hodder ad nauseam. For a start Jack Hodder to my knowledge has never practised on his own account. He has been working for Chapman Tripp for about the last 30 years. I am sure David Parker will confirm that when he stands up to speak. But the simple fact of the matter is that the Law Society and most lawyers support the reintroduction of the title Queen’s Counsel. That is non-debatable. 
Let us reflect on that. This title was taken away in the same way that the previous Government got rid of knighthoods and all those sorts of things in a fit of pique. Then we were told that those titles did not represent a multicultural society. I would like to remind the Opposition that I think I contribute to that multicultural society and I am a valid member of that multicultural society. 
Sandra Goudie 
: Absolutely! 
PAUL QUINN 
: Yes. In fact I fully support the reinstatement of Queen’s Counsel. The reason is that I have been on the receiving end of employing these people. 
Hon Steve Chadwick 
: Oh! 
PAUL QUINN 
: Absolutely and against the Crown I might say. We have won every time. One of the reasons we won every time is that we employed a damn good Queen’s Counsel. The reason I knew that he was damn good was that he had the stamp of the brand of Queen’s Counsel. That means a lot. This is what people rely on. It is a badge of integrity; it sets a certain standard. I am afraid that unlike the Opposition I think the fit of pique that it had in getting rid of these things including redress to the Privy Council was a damnation—a damnation. It had nothing to do with talking to the motherland. The fact of the matter is that our justice system in my personal view is worse off because of the inability to go to the Privy Council. All we are doing with this legislation is restoring the integrity of experienced senior lawyers. 
If we go through any fraternity of any sort or any occupation of any sort we see that people get honoured for reaching certain standards. I am sure that even the Labour Party has juniors and seniors. People get recognised for graduating through the ranks and one day—one day—if Chris Hipkins is here for long enough he might get to the middle benches. But that will be through just sheer time. 
Hon Nathan Guy 
: There are 17 of them. 
PAUL QUINN 
: There are 17 of them. But the fact of the matter is that members of fraternities step up as they gain experience and competence and levels of excellence. That is all these titles reflect; the title of Queen’s Counsel reflects that. 
Simplistically what we have done after consulting—as we do on most things—with the organisations is reinstate this title to basically its former position and because of this reinstatement the general populace will be assisted when they are in need by these excellent guardians of freedom whom they rely on. So I have great pleasure in concluding my contribution by saying that I fully support this outstanding bill.