LITERATURE AND LAW

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29102, 14 January 1960, Page 13

LITERATURE AND LAW

Success In Both Fields

A New Zealander who has made an international reputation in two fields, law and literature, is at present visiting Christchurch. He is Mr Edward Opotiki Mousley, M.A., LI.B. (Cantab.), Ll.B. (N.Z.) a member of the Chancery Bar, London.

Mr Mousley was on active service in 1914-18, was wounded and a prisoner of war with General Townshend's army in the siege of Kut-el-Amara. He was mentioned in a special post-war despatch for gallantry in attempting to escape over the Marmora Sea In 1919-20 he was Chief Legislative Draftsman, Judicial Department, Mesopotamia. He was a member of the British Empire Delegation to the Washington conference in 1921-22; the Hague Conference and to the Third Assembly of The League of Nations. He was legal advisor to the Reparation Claims Department when he had to deal with “the German effprts to meet their obligations or wriggle out of them as so many of us try to do.” His published works include “The Place of International Law in Jurisprudence,” for which he was awarded a Cambridge University Diploma as an original contribution to the world’s knowledge; “An Empire View of the Empire Tangle;” "The Secrets of a Kuttite;” “Blow Bugles Blow,” a novel; “Mr Salt Finds Happiness,” a novel; “Le Siege de Kut-el-Amara;” “Man or Leviathan?’’

and, with others, "Federal Union.” Mr Mousley has been counsel in many international legal cases involving such things as insurance, shipping, exchange and oil, which have taken him to various parts of the world. Thirty years ago he refused silk. Though he has had great success at the Bar bis first love has been literature, especially creative literature. His success in law gave him freedom in his writings. He considers his two main works to be “The Secrets of a Kuttite” and "Man or Leviathan?” a study of the issue before civilisation, involving law and order. Federalism

Referring to the doctrine of federalism Mr Mousley said the next stage of consolidation of any federal advance must be economic. The time had gone by for making paper constitutions. They had been proved unrealistic. “It seems to me at the moment that the important positions we must secure before we can advance towards an incipient federalism, let alone a world state, are economic. It is no good having agreements between governments if there are unresolved difficulties dividing them. The real test of co-operation between peoples Is not nice phrases,” he said. “We hear a lot about the economic struggles but nb-one seems to be taking account of a hopeful development. That is the widening of the economic base."

Mr Mousley said his daughter, Miss Joyce Mousley, lectured in history at Canterbury University in 1950. She had recently been working on The History of Parliaments.