Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1936. SIR FRANCIS BELL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 130, 14 March 1936, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1936. SIR FRANCIS BELL.

M B y *he death of Sir Francis Be!!, New Zealand has lost a very valuable and distinguished citizen, for few men could produce a record of service and achievement comparable with his. The son of an early coloniser, who posessed the characteristics necessary to overcome the difficulties inseparable from those days,and who was,moreover, a man of rare ability, industry, foresight and charm. Sir F' rancis proved a worthy son of a father who was one of the founders of the ■ high traditions to which this country owes so much. Called to the English bar early, he quickly attained, on his return to his native land, a leading position in the legal profession, of which he was for long one of those practitioners who have made the lawyers of New Zealand universally respected for technical skill, high ability and honourable practice. His reputation for profound knowledge of the law, the calibre of the famous cases with which he was associated, his acknowledged leadership among his professional brethren, and his widely recognised faculty of being simple and comprehensible to the lay mind as well as profound in his pronouncements, combined to stamp him as a man with rare qualities and powers. As has been the case with many men of note in his profession. law and politics were closely connected in his life. In the political field the bare record of his years of successful service is impressive without any embellishment. But there is in it much more than mere time devoted to public life. However successful and important the work he did in general politics may have been previously, it can be said to have reached its full fruition when the party with which he had long beer, associated gained office in 1912. It was then that his powers of leadership, his profound knowledge of the law, and his constructive legislative powers were drawn upon for the assistance of his party and the service of his country. To the outward eye his main services were os Leader of the Legislative Council, and later as Attorney-General. There can be no minimising his achievements in both those capacities, but it was also known to those close at hand that he was a leading power in the inner councils of the Government. His was undoubtedly the directing mind in shaping much intricate and important legislation, but that same mind was also actively employed in formulating policy. To him fell the unique and additional experience of legal adviser in the Great War, in which this country became involved soon after the start of his Ministerial career. Through that work it is impossible to follow him in detail. It is enough to say that the complications which faced him at every turn, in our domestic and international relations, were of the gravest and most intricate, and that his ability and learning stood the test triumphantly. The latest edition of Mr Pember Reeves’ book on New Zealand, “The Long White Cloud.” in the' added sketch of then recent events written by Mr Cecil J. Wray, contains the following: In New Zealand politics, Sir Francis, as a reasoning Conservative, probably thinks that all sensible people should follow the middle of the road. As that is impossible he is a good party an who, behind a certain genial cynicism, conceals much real kindliness, a belief in fair-play, and genuine zeal for rational government. Ihus Sir Francis earned the tribute the Prime Minister, as leader of a party that differed most from his political faith, has generously paid him.