WITTIEST JUDGE RETIRES

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXV, Issue 12390, 30 July 1937, Page 1 (Supplement)

WITTIEST JUDGE RETIRES

Mr Justice Eve, who is aged 80, is retiring after having been a judge of the chancery division for 30 years. It was announced in London that he will become a privy councillor. He will be succeeded on the bench by Gavin Turnbull Simonds, K.C., who is aged 55 and was one of the tribunal which ‘ inquired into the budget leakage. Mr Justice Eve was one of the bench’s greatest wits. It was he who naively asked: “What is a saxophone?” ,and on one occasion he said, “A child practicing the piano is the torture of the damned.” Other of his quips which have become famous were; “I have no ear for music because I never let my hair grow long.” “It.may be for the benefit of a man to pay his creditors: but it is more for his benefit to feed his stomach.” “I prefer dogs to children, because they do not ask embarrassing questions.” "I would sooner hear a corn mill grinding all day than listen to a jazz band for an hour.” During a case recently, in which a datrymjan was concerned, Mi Justice Eve revealed that be never touched milk. “That is no reflection on your client’s milk,” he assured ' counsel, amid laughter. “I don’t take it — it fattens.”