LATE SIR ROBERT STOUT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19986, 22 July 1930, Page 12

LATE SIR ROBERT STOUT.

THREE HIGH OFFICES. SIR M. MYERS'S EULOGY. [THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, July .21. A striking tribute to the late Sii Robert Stout tvas paid by the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, in the Supreme Court this morning. His Honoui said. — ' . . "So far as I know, his is the only instance in the British Empire of one mau having held the highest oinces in both the executive and Judicial branches of the State. For a paral el case we have to look to the United States, where' the late Mr 'Aatt had a similar record. But as if this weiu not suiiicient, Sir Kobert lor a period of over 20 years held also the highes office in the educational li eot ttoe community, that of Chancellor of the New Zealand University, and in he was appointed a member of h Judicial Committee of the Council, the ultimate appellate tribunal of the overseas Dominions of the Empire. In every one o the great j positions that he has held he displaced ( the samo characteristic qualities, the same ability, integrity, high mindeduess, courtesy, kindness, and untiring industry. Few of you will remember him as a practising barrister. Indeed, r.s a barrister, he seems to have belonged to a past generation, as will be apparent when 1 tell you that I believe myself to be the youngest man living who appeared against him at the Bar, and I can remember only two such appearances. He was a great 1 advocate, and enjoyed a very success- . ful. career at the Jiar. One or the principal secrets of his success was that he had a fine sense of what the really important issues were in a case and concentrated his attention upon them, and them alone. "But it is as a Judge that we all knew him best, and it is as a Judge that he inspired in every one of us a s'neere and lasting affection. A kindlier man never lived nor man with a ' greater passion for justice. Many a young man now at the Bar remembers an encouraging ami kindly word from tho 'old Chief,' as we used to mil him, which means so much at the •:ommencement of one's career. And now a great man haa gone to his eternal rest in his own consciousness and in ours of having lived a long, honourable, and intensely useful life. We can but mourn him and remember his life as a guiding light, just that, and add our expression of sincere nnd respectful sympathy to Lady Stout and members of the family, and our hope that they will derive some consolation in their grief from today's tributes in the Courts, over which the departed one presided for so mnnv years, from the men who knew Kim best and who held him in deep and reverent affection."

AT CHRISTCHURCH. Solicitors and Magistrates of Christchurch r>ai<] a tribute to the memory of Sir Robert Stout befpre the business in the Magistrate's Courts commenced yesterday, the Courts adjourning for a few moments. There waa a, large, attendance of solicitors tnd Messrs fl. A. Young, E. D. Mosley* and H. P. Lawry, Stipendiary Magistrates, were on the Bench. Mr G. T. Weston, president of the Canterbury Law Society, said that in the absence from' Chriatchurch of his Honour Mr Justice Adams, it was felt, that .some referenceshould be made to the _ death of Sir Robert Stout in the Magistrate's Court.

Sir Robert had been one of New Zealand's ..most distinguished pitixens. He bad to New Zealand as a boy, bad become a school teacher, and later a fine advocate and finally Chief Justice. He had been a splendid example of %hat a man could be. He was a fine advocate, with'a-'magnifi-cent voiceand ' a magnetic presence. As Chief Justice, he was industrious beyond the usual standard, and did his work thoroughly and well. As a statesman he was possessed of the highest ideals, and in that direction perhaps displayed ' his best qualities. New Zealand had been fortunate in having him for so long. He had been a great citizen, and a valuable servant to the country. New Zealand mourned one of its adopted sons with more than usual grief Mr H. A. Young, on behalf of- the Magistrates, said that it was fitting that they should pay their tribute before commencing their, judicial work. Sir Robert's life had been one of unreserved self-sacrifice and had been devoted to. public interests. His judicial work had been an inspiration to everyone. Their feeling was one of thankfulness for such a life and such an inspiration. Their sympathy went out to Lady S»out and her family. One of the sons was a colleague stationed in the North Island. The Courts then adjourned for a few moments. CITY COUNCIL'S TRIBUTE. ' 'On behalf of the City Couneil and the citizens of Christchurch I desire to move a resolution of regret at the death of Sir Robert Stout, and appreciation of the distinguished services which he rendered to the community," said the Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) at' the meeting last night of the Christchurch City Council. "We also offer our sympathy to Lady Stout and family,'' added the Mayor. Seconding the resolution, which was carried, Cr. D. G. Sullivan, M.P., referred to Sir Robert Stout's - distinguished career as a politician, a Minister of the Crown, a Prime Minister, and Chief Justice. *

SENSE OF DUTY. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTIC (FBISS AfSOCXiTIO* TKLEOBAM.) WELLINGTON, July 21. • Sympathetic rcferenceß to the death of Sir Robert Stout were made in the Court of Appeal this morning. • On the Bench were Mr Justice Beed, Mr Justice • Adams, Mr Justice Blair, and Mr Justice Kennedy, and with them Sir Frederick Chapman. There were also present in the body of the Court: Sir Franciß Bell, the Solicitor-General (Mr A. v Gray, K.C.), Mr H. P. Johnston, K.C., Chief Judge Jones (Native Land Court), the Stipendiary Magistrates, Messrs Page, Neil, and Woodward, an ex-magistrate, Mr w. Gr« Riddell, and a very large assembly of the Wellington "We are assembled here this morning to pay a tribute of respect to the memory of one who had for many years been a. prominent figure * ia our

public life," said his Honour Mr Justice Beed. "Sir Robert Stout, in his time, held two of the offices open to a citizen of this .Dominion, that of Prime Minister and Chief Justice. To Kis many activities in the social and public-life in New Zealand the public and Press have borne ample testimony, but this llrge and representative gathering is to-day _ assembled more particularly to mark its respect for Sir Eobert in his capacity as a lawyer, and the Chief Justice of New Zealand. I well remember as a boy his prominence at the Bar, ■ and the vigorous contests between him and Sir John Denniston in the local courts, but it is of his connexion with the Bench as Chief Justice that my seven years' experience of him as one of his puisnes best qualifies me to speak. The close association that such a position entails enables one to form an accurate estimate of character, and I desire to pay a personal tribute to his kindliness of heart and honesty of purpose in all he did. "Sir Robert's outstanding characteristic was his sense of duty, and nothing would turn him consequences and adverse criticism. He was mentally in every sense a strong man. He was without a particle of side or pretentiousness. Display was abhorrent to him. Kindliness of heart and sympathy with the poor and distressed were predominant and mbving forces in his administration of justice. Sound common sense characterised his iudgments. To us, who were his close associates on the Bench, his kindliness and consideration ltoade him a. wellloved friend, and when he retired we long missed his cheery and very friendly' presence. We mourn his, loss. To his -gentle lady, who for more than half a century has been his helpful companion, and who now lies upon * sick bed, we extend our; heartfelt, sympathy. Maj* the ; ?nany proofs shfl will receive.of thjj unfweirsal respect inVhieft &w lamented;; husband was held," andDominion^ wide sympathy that 'will be to her And her children inher bereavement,, afford Bome solace to hefc and to them in their- great sorrow."'. & ■ OtherTrlbutes. • Sir Francis Bell spoke of his longassociation with Sir, Robert Stout at the Bar, in Parliament, and in business, and related the outstanding events of the life of the late Chief Justice. He stressed those qualities which had made Sir Robert outstanding as a jurat, student, and statesman, and beloved of all his friends. . ' , Mr Justice Reed also .read a letter from the Attorney-General, Sir Thomas Sidey, who .regretted that owing to illness he was unable to attend, but desired to add his expression of sympathy to that of the other speakers. In the course of his tribute, J* Thomas said: "It has been said of England that the history of her great lawyers was in no small degree the history of the nation. The same might be said with some truth as regards New Zealand, and to write fully the record' of Sir Robert Stout's activities would be to recount the political, educational, and social life of this country extending over many years. He was a great mail, intellectually and physically, and, although he attained such eminence m the State, he retained charm and simplicity in all his private relations." COURAGE AND KINDNESS. (paiss Assocunos wlegbah.* . HAMILTON, July 2L Tribute was paid to the late; Sir Robert Stout in th? Hamilton Supreme, Court this morning by a large gather* ing of members of the Bar, and the Court adjourned for half an hour. His Honour Mr Justice Herdman said that another link -Which binds the early and interesting days of New Zealand history with the present -had been broken in the death, of Sir Robert | Stout. There had disappeared Irom the stage one who was a masterful and striking figure, one who combined indomitable courage -with great kindness of heart, and one who loved, the country in which he elected to make Ms name with fervent affection.