Sir Francis Bell

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21732, 14 March 1936, Page 16

Sir Francis Bell

By the death of Sir Francis Bell New Zealand loses her ablest and most'distinguished, though perhaps not her best known, political figure since the period of Seddon.. It can fairly be said of him that had he been less direct in his manner, less clear in his thinking, arid less intolerant, of the arts and deceptions which are the stock-in-trade of the politician, he might lyijjttvwritten his name much more largely New Zealand and of the Empire. It was not that he was aloof or difficult of approach or that he lacked the capacity to make friends. On the contrary, he had an amazing capacity for making friends and holding them; and, although he liked to speak his mind, he could do so without arousing anger or enmity. His failing, if it can be called a failing, was his unwillingness to be dependent on popular opinion; After serving for one session in the House of Representatives he refused to fecontest his seat and returned to his legal work. It was only hi? close friendship with Massey Which, nearly 20 years later, brought him back into politics. When the Reform party came into power in 1912, its position' was peculiarly difficult. It had few men of ability or administrative experience in its ranks, its Parliamentary majority was precariously small, arid Massey himself, who had not yet revealed his remarkable qualities as a political leader, was regarded without any great enthusiasm by most of, the party's! supporters. By inducing Bell to' accept a seat in the Legislative Council and a portfolio in his Ministry, Massey secured the help of an outstandingly able administrator and, what-was'more important, a political counsellor of rare sagacity and foresight. In the war period, during the latter part of which he was Attorney-General, his legal knowledge was particularly valuable and some of his mortgage legislation, which was of his own drafting, became the model for similar legislation in other parts of the Empire. It is perhaps to be regretted that the future historian of New Zealand politics will find so few tangible evidences of his remarkable qualities. Though he held many portfolios in the course oi his long career, and though he was conspicuously successful in all of them, his importance lies far more in his influence over his immediate colleagues, whose faith in his political judgment was unbounded. To all who knew him well, he was a great man; but the memory of contemporaries is a transient memorial. Even more regrettable is that there is so little written record of Bell's legal wisdom and scholarship. Had he become a judge, he would certainly, have left judgments that would have been a delight to students, for many years to come; had he been less immersed in affairs he might, have made a notable contribution to the literature of constitutional law. As it was, he was content that his legal knowledge, in which reading and experience were so admirably blended, should be of use in the day-to-day condupt of government. Neither in law nor in. politics did he consciously strive to build up.a reputation, for himself. He will be re T membered, not for any body of achievement (though his achievements were in fact substantial) but for his innate qualities of courage, shrewdness, and intellectual integrity.