FELLOW PRACTITIONER PASSES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 25 November 1925, Page 5

FELLOW PRACTITIONER PASSES.

COURT PAYS TRIBUTE. TO MR, WELSH’S MEMORY. Feeling tribute to the memory of the late Mr. R. A. D. Welsh was paid by fellow practitioners who attended at' the Hawera Magistrate’s Court this morning. Mr. D. G. Smart, president of the Hawera Law Society, said that Mr. Welsh had been the oldest member of the Hawera Bar, he having commenced practice 'in Hawera .37 years ago. During the years that followed he won. the confidence of a very large clientele and earned the highest respect and esteem of his fellow practitioners. Ml Welshs’ reputation as a lawyer had been high, his skill as a draughtsman had been "■widely known, and he had been regarded by his fellow, practitioners as a lawyer of great analytical faculty, .sound judgment, and the highest integrity. His dealings with his fellow practitioners had been marked by kindliness and courtesy, and his professional conduct had always been in accord with the highest traditions of his profession. His high qualities combined to make him an eminent citizen and distinguished lawyer, and to the community and the [ profession his loss would be correspondingly severe. On behalf of the members of the Hawera Bar, Mr. Smart said he wished to tender, to Mr. Walsh’s widow and relatives sincere sympathy in the great loss sustained.

Mr. A. G. Bennett, of Manaia, the oldest surviving practitioner in South Taranaki, said that Mt. Welsh had been his senior by some five years. Mr. Bennett said he had known Mr. Welsh as a young man, and he recalled the time when Messrs Barton, Caplen, and Welsh were the only solicitors practising in Hawera. Mr. Welsh had always been very good and helpful to young practitioners; he was a man of the highest qualities; he w'as not a superficial man, but went down to the fundamentals of law; he wars a very strong court man, and he was probably the best common lawyer in South Taranaki.

Mr. G. H. Ryan said he had been associated with Mr. Welsh for a great number of years, and be had been in partnership with him for some time. Apart from Mr. Welsh’s- capabilities as a lawyer, that gentleman had also taken an active interest in sport.

Mr. E. A. Pacey, J.. P.. also paid a tribute toe Mr. Welsh’s memory, stating that his acquaintance with Mr. Welsh extended back’ about 30 years.Mr. Welsh had been a man of outstanding character, loyal to his principles, and a great humanitarian. The magistrate, Mr. J. S. Barton, said he had been deeply shocked on hearing of Mr. Welsh’s sudden passing. He felt that Mr. Welsh’s death had left the community the poorer, and he joined in the, expressions of the previous speakers. Mr 1 . Welsh had created around him an atmosphere of deep affection and trust, and as in all professions they found men who formed the aristocracy of that particular calling, he could say that Mr. Welsh was one of the aristocracy of the legal profession. The court then honoured the memory of the deceased bv standing a moment in silence.

Apologies for absence were received from Messrs P. O’Dea, F. C. Spratt, and H. L. Spratt.