NEW PROFESSOR

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 61, 13 March 1935, Page 7

NEW PROFESSOR

LAW FACULTY

WELCOME DINNER

To welcome Professor Williams, who was recently appointed to the Faculty of Law at Victoria University College, the Law Faculty Club of the college Jast night held a dinner. .*; In the absence of Mr. R. J. Larkin, Mri J. White • presided. Among those present were Professor Adamson, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Victoria College, Professor J. Rankine Brown, the chairman of the Professorial Board. Professor H. H. Cornish, K.C., the Solicitor-General, Mr. H. F. O'Leary, a member of the Victoria College Council, Mr. J. B. Callan, K.C., Mr. C. H. Weston, K.C., and Mr. W. H. Cunningham, president of the Wellington Law Society. The toast "Victoria College and the Law Faculty" was proposed,by Professor H. H. Cornish. There was no question that the Law Faculty was the leading faculty of Victoria College, he said. After paying a tribute to Fro--fessof Garrow, he emphasised the importance of Victoria College as the -school of law, and the necessity for keeping it as the school of law 3n New Zealand. Thanks on behalf of the Victoria College Council were expressed by Mr. 2JH. F. O'Leary, in reply to the toast. *He apologised for the unavoidable abSence of Mr. P. Levi, the chairman Sbt the council. It was a happy he said, that a gathering Should be held to welcome the new professor, as only good could come 'from the close association of students "and professors. The council's actions Siad not always met with the approval of the students, but it was pleasing to note that the appointment of 'Professor Williams had met with their -wholehearted support. Mr. O'Leary that he began at Victoria College "JWhen the classes were held at the /^Girls' College in Pipitea Street at such Jimes as the professors could take ihem. He entertained the gathering -with reminiscences of Professor Williams's predecessors, and expressed his ."belief that the professor would equal ;|f not surpass them all: He trusted jhat the students would always con•tinue to take an interest in the law, 'She faculty, and the college as a whole. - PROFESSOR'S REGRET. ' On rising to support Mr. O'Leary 'in.r.eplyto the toast, Professor Adam■«ori "was greeted with applause and Lcheers. He associated himself with 3those who had expressed pleasure at :; Jhe coming of Professor Williams, and ;^gave it as his opinion that the processor would be an invaluable asset "not only to the Law Faculty but also !"to the college. Professor Adamson 'said, he was disappointed that New .'Zealand had not made a greater ad:;,varicein the teaching of law, its.com"jiarative slowness being due to- its 'parpchialism and its self-assurance. of: us are specialists in every Subject we teach, though some may be "specialists in some subjects," he said. f The cordial relationships that existed the legal and the accountancy was spoken of; by Mr. R. 33. Nankervis, who proposed the toast £bf "The Legal Profession." £ In "'reply, Mr. W. H. Cunningham ■^tressed; the value and co-operation present and future members :«t)f the legal profession and said he was ■"^confident that the future members '•"Would carry on the wonderful traditions of the profession. "The only way .2>ne\ can rise in the legal profession 13s from the ranks,'' he:, said. "When Sgroil''-: have passed your; examinations Is^ovtiifiiive only passed-'tiie recruit stage real haroT work btegins." Z f^HE MAN QF THE HOUR." £ Mr.. A. Ti S.-McGhie proposed the Soast ,of "Our Guest." A murmur of Apprehension had-run through the of the law students' at the leavSjng.of Professor Cornish, he said. There »was a sigh of relief at the appointment Professor Williams, and when they «had. heard his lectures -that sigh beScam'e a chorus of approbation. Vic-toria-had been fortunate in its law he said, and he went on to Sspeak of the significance-of the latest Appointment'in! these times when legal Education was the subject of so much criticism. "I hope that the preforming stars of Adamson and Williams are goingto shine in the foren3ic firmament of New Zealand with a 'brightness that knows no setting," said *ftr; McGhie. "We will be: loyal if they %iveus inspiration. . . .. I-think Processor Williams is the man of the 3ipur." ' • .;..,■ ™ The toast was honoured with cheers ?and the singing of "For He's a Jolly 3Good Fellow." .' „ « Professor, Williams was greeted with Applause when he rose to reply. He Shanked everybody for their' kindly towards him, and after tracing some of the achievements of his eminent predecessors said that it would be almost presumptuous of him to say that he hoped to follow in their footsteps, but he would try to do that to the best of his ability. • As-the success of any society was dependent on the efforts of no particular individual but of the. whole, the success of the Law Faculty at Victoria was dependent on the efforts, of all.the students and the professors alike. His hope was that those efforts would contribute to the tradition of sound scholarship and good legal learning that had become established at Victoria University College. ".'