Obituary

Press, 26 September 1984, Page 3

Obituary

PA Wellington An authority on international and constitutional law, Professor Quentin Quentin Baxter, died at his home during an asthma attack early yesterday morning. He was 62.

Professor Quentin Baxter, on the full-time staff of the law faculty of Victoria University of Wellington, was also a member of the International Law Commission which met each year in Geneva.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Palmer, described Professor Quentin Baxter as one of New Zealand’s most distinguished public lawyers. “His death will leave a great gap,” Mr Palmer said. Professor Quentin Baxter was able to combine academic duties with public law contributions in a wider realm, he said.

“He was one of the counsel for New Zealand in the

Nuclear Test Case before the International Court of Justice in 1973-74; “Since 1971 he has been a member of the International Law Commission which involved his spending much time out of New Zealand each year. This is a post of considerable importance in the international community.

“New Zealand has lost its best known international lawyer. It has also lost a wise and far-sighted scholar.” Mr Palmer said he felt a particular sense of loss because he and Professor Quentin Baxter had been colleagues in the law faculty at Victoria University.