SIR JOSIAH SYMON

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 76, 31 March 1934, Page 11

SIR JOSIAH SYMON

AUSTRALIAN STATESMAN

PIONEER OF FEDERATION

ADELAIDE, March 30. The death has. occurred of Sir Josiah Symon, one,of the framers of the Federal Constitution, and a ' member of the first Commonwealth Senate, at the age, of S7. . '

Sir Josiah. Symon was the senior K.C.M.G. in "Australia. . Ho was a protagonist ,of Federation, one- oi: the founders of tho Commonwealth, a foremost member of tho memorable Australian National Convention, which framed the. Constitution,. and chairman of the judiciary committee responsible for its judicial system. Ho visited England in 1899, after the people had adopted the Constitution, to assist its passage through the Imperial Parliament and prepare- the way for-tlio delegation of 1900, and received the congratulations of. Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, then Colonial .Secretary.

Sir Josiah Symon was born at Wick, County of Caithness, Scotland, on September 27, 1846, and, arrived in South Australia on September 15, 1866. Ho was articled to Ms cousin, Mr. J. D. Sutherland, then practising at Mount Gambier. While there' ho was associated with Mr. S. (afterwards Sir Samuel) Way, who had' gone there- as counsel in the actions brought by settlers in the Hundred of Caroline against! Mr. W. J. T. Clarke, owner of Mount Schank Station, for damage to their property by a fivo which originated at the station. -In recognition of his services ho was invited by. Mr. Way to transfer his articles, which ho did in June, 1870, the firm then being Way and Brook. The latter died in 1872, and Sir Josiah, who had been admitted to the Bar on November 21,1871, joined Mr. Way in i partnership- in January, 1873. He was retained to undertake the prosecutions for the Crown at the south-eastern circuit in October of that year. ■■•' • ■ . : ■ •.,-•-. ..-■•■,

With a reputation for: energy and ability in his work he became the acknowledged leader of the South Australian Bar. Ho took silk in 1881, at the early age of 34,, and in 1884 was offered a Supreme Court Judgeship, in succession to Mr. .Justice Andrews, which ho declined. . ;

Jusfc prior to the General.Election in 1881, he' accepted the position of At-torney-General. In the-election which, immediately f ollowedhc'fought for the Government: as„a candidate for Sturt. Wheii'the first I Government formed by. Sir John Bray took office, Sir Josiah became, Leader of the Opposition. In the election; of 3.884 tho party led.by Sir Josiah' was' returned with' a substantial majority, but the leader having intimated.that he.was .not prepared to take' 'Office*''.as Premier arid AttorneyGeneral, owing to increased professional duties and a growing family, Sir John Colton formed a Ministry. Having represented Shirt for sis years, Sir Josiah retired to contest1 the' district of Victoria at the General Election of .1887, to fight the issues of free trade and payment of members, and was defeated.

When the Federal movement was seriously launched by Sir Henry Parkes, Sir Josiah became his wholehearted supporter and was unremitting in his advocacy until tho National Federal Convention was- secured, when he was chosen as one of tho ten representatives of his State, the Constitution in 1898 being approved and passed in form for submission to the people of Australia for their approval. During the whole Federal fight he was" president of the Commonwealth League and tho Federal League. His service in the cause resulted in his selection by the Judiciary Committee of the convention as its chairman, and for the leadership of the States Eights' Party. He was a membei" of the Commonwealth Senate from its inception until June, 1913, and was returned at tho head of tho poll for South Australia at each of tho two Senate elections. Ho was AttorneyGeneral in the Reid Ministry, 1904-05. In 1011 ho represented tho Commonwealth of Australia at tho Coronation naval review at Spithcnd. Ho was knighted in-1901.