Mr Editor, A recent story in respect of Cook Island Crown Law office advised that the office was nearing its goal of having 16 staff solicitors to handle the government legal workload.

An enquiry with Crown Law Aotearoa revealed that the population there of 5,223,000 is served by 138 solicitors, or one Crown solicitor per 37,847 members of the public.

Our population is 15,000 so we are on the way to having one Crown solicitor per 937 members of the public.

And yet, Crown Law continues to hire private lawyers to deal with land and other matters.

Will the person in charge of the Cook Islands please raise your hand?

(Name and contact provided)