past two years.

Figures released on Friday show increases in 1991-2 and 1992-3 and estimates show this growth in numbers has carried onto the year ending in March of this year.

Officials are putting the increases down to the recession with less money around to pay for legal bills.

The Legal Aid Committee's 1993 annual report stated: "It should be noted that there was an almost 25 percent increase in applications actually granted.

"The sharpest increase, almost 60 percent, was in domestic and matrimonial matters.'' The total number of applicants rose from 544 in 1991-2 to 693 in 1992-3. About 67 percent of applications were granted each year.

Legal aid applications decreased for criminal cases but civil cases increased.

In domestic and matrimonial cases applications increased from 216 to 339 over the recorded years.

Chairman of the Legal Aid Committee Mr. Kenneth Brown said: "The legal aid scheme is currently under review. The whole system of how it is administered is currently under review.

"The most pressing problem as far as the committee is concerned is that the current workload is not only placing an increased demand on committee members but, more importantly, it is becoming too much for one secretary to process all the necessary papers.'' He predicted the increase would continue next year. He said: "There has been a great increase and 1993-4 is showing similar signs.

"The committee meets just once a week but the secretary is the person running things. She is definitely overworked.'' Of the 466 certificates granted, 285 went to females and 181 to males.

For the year ended March 31, 1993, $438,319.92 was paid out in counsels' fees.

This compares to $570,314 paid out the previous year.

Mr. Brown said: "There is nothing that requires special comment although it may be pertinent to note that the reason many of the applications are declined is because the applicant's income or capital exceed the limits set out in the Act.'' The legal aid scheme was established by the Legal Aid Act 1980 to ensure that eligible applicants are given legal aid largely free of charge. The committee has some power to order litigants to pay limited contributions.

Certain eligible applicants are entitled, as of right, to legal aid when facing serious criminal charges.

Otherwise the grant of legal aid is discretionary although the committee must in all cases have regard to the "interests of justice''.

BUMPER BOOST -- The End-to-End Walk enabled organisers to split $100,000 equally between four worthy causes. Pictured in the foreground (from left) are Hope Homes' Ms Ellen Douglas receiving a cheque from Mr. Paul Rowlerson, Mr.

Ian Birch presenting a cheque to Pembroke Community Club's Ms Winifred Smith, and PRIDE's Mrs. Pauline Richards receiving a cheque from Ms Karen Wolfe. At the back (from left), Mr. Jon Borrill presents a cheque to the Allan Vincent Smith Foundation's Mr. Ray Latter.