OBITUARY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 13 March 1936, Page 5

OBITUARY

SIR FRANCIS H. D. BELL OUTSTANDING CAREER (By Telegraph-Press Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Rt. Hon. Sir Francis Henry Dillon Bell, P.C., G.C.M.G., K.C., M.L.C., died at 7 o’clock this morning. The Rt. Hon. Sir Francis Henry Dillon Bell made his mark in New Zealand’s history and he was the son of a man whose name is also well and honourably known in connection with New Zealand history, Sir Francis Dillon Bell, who was at one time agent for the New Zealand Company in Nelson and later AgentGeneral’for New Zealand in London. Sir Francis was born at the New Zealand Company’s residence at Port Nelson in 1851 and was the first native-born New Zealander to become Premier. He was educated, in a brief review, at the Auckland Grammar School, Otago Boys’ High School, Dunedin, where he easily distinguished himself as the Dux scholar from 1864 to 1868, and at St. John’s College, Cambridge, taking his B.A. degree at that University in 1872. He qualified and was admitted as a barrister of the Middle Temple the following year, and on his return to New Zealand was admitted to practice as a barrister of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Joining Mr C. 11. Izard, he remained in : partnership with that gentleman until he established the firm of Bell, Gully and Myers, of which he was the senior partner. As a practising barrister, MiBell was regarded by the profession as ond Of its. most distinguished members. He ,wa 3 appointed Crown; Solicitor for Wellington in 1878,- and held that position for many years, and when the first King’s Counsel were appointed in New Zealand in 1907, he was one of those upon whom the honour was conferred. Had he so desired, he might have held a seat- on the Supreme Court Bench these many years, for lie was. offered such an appointment in Sir Harry Atkinson’s time, but found it inconvenient to give up his practice in the Law. Courts. That he did not accept the offer has been all to the good of the country. • _ . -r, „ From his early years Sir. Francis Bell took an active interest in municipal affairs. He was Mayor of Wellington in 1891-1892, and in 1897. His great achievement in civic affairs was the initiation of the drainage system m Wellington, for which purpose he was mainly instrumental in securing the passage through Parliament of a special Empowering Bill, by which the city was authorised to raise £150,000 for drainage construction. He contested the Wellington seat m the House of Representatives three times before he was returned. On the first occasion, at the by-election caused by Mr T. K. Macdonald’s seat being declared vacant, at the end of 1890, he was unsuccessful. Within a year he was again defeated, Mr W. McLean winning the seat and holding it until the dissolution in 1893. Mr Bell captured the seat in the General Election of thgt year, but did not recontest it in 1896. Fifteen years afterwards, his son, the late Captain William Henry Dillon Bell, won the Wellington Suburbs and Country Districts seat. Captain Bell was the first member of the House of Representatives to volunteer for active service in 1914.

Entering Parliament in the same year as Mr Massey —1893—Sir Francis Bell at once became a close friend of the late Prime Minister. When Mr Massey assumed office as Prime Minister in July, 1912,.5ir, Francis was appointed to the Legislative Council to take charge of that House and he filled that position as Leader of the Upper House with, conspicuous ability for many years. In the first Massey Administration he received the portfolios of Minister for Internal Affairs and Minister for Immigration.. He was appointed Attorney-Gen-eral in 1918 and in 1922, and on the reorganisation of the Cabinet he assumed the portfolio of Minister for External Affairs. HONOURS CONFERRED In 1915 Sir Francis Bell was created K.C.M.G., still higher honours being conferred upon him in 1923, when he was made a Grand Commander of the same Order (G.C.M.G.) and in 1926, when he was created a Privy Councillor. In 1924 Sir Francis initiated the Forestry Service, of which he was the first commissioner, and appointed its officers. He held that portfolio until 1922, when he resigned it in favour of Sir Heaton Rhodes. Meantime, the portfoilo of Internal Affairs was assumed by the Hon. R. F. Bollard, and that of Immigration by the Hon. W. Nosworthy. In 1922 Sir Francis visited the Genoa and Hague Allied Conferences, and represented New Zealand at the Council of the League of Nations in the same year. Sir Francis Bell was a strong Imperialist; he ably sponsored the doctrines of his late chief in regard to naval defence and other Empire proposals that Mr Massey had from time to time advocated before successive assemblies of the Imperial Conference. Sir Francis was for many years president of the New Zealand Law Society, and was frequently re-elected, onlv retiring when he accepted the AttorneyGeneralship, the holding of which was inconsistent with that of the office of president. On his retirement, the profession presented him with a valuable collection of plate and silver. When he went to England and Genoa he was presented by the Prince of Wales, on behalf of the Legislative Council, with a valuable silver-mounted casket at the Imperial Institute, in the presence of a large number of New Zealanders in London. In the same year, members of the House subscribed and presented him with a silver punch bowl, which lias often graced festive occasions at Parliament House. He was connected with cricket and rowing, and for many years held presidential posts in connection with both sports. TRIBUTE BY PRIME MINISTER

WELLINGTON. This Day. The Prime Minister (the Hon. M. J. Savage) in the course of a tribute of Sir Francis Bell said he had a reputation which extended beyond New Zealand. He was a great constitutional lawyer and his opinions were, I believe, greatly respected by the Imperial authorities. As a political opponent of a party which was now the Government, Si)- Francis was always a keen and strong adversary, but because he was a man who had principles and stood by them, because he always stuck to his word, he was an opponent whom one could honour and respect. He must also be given credit for his support on many matters which the Labour Partv fought for. notably in regard to the Housing and Rent Restriction Acts, and in recent years the Labour -(Movement found, m his ripe wisdom and amazing wealth of experience, a generous friend and counsel. His valuable advice was always given in a friendly and informal way. His death will be widely mourned.”