SOLICITOR – GENERAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19027, 26 May 1925, Page 10

SOLICITOR - GENERAL.

APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCED. MR. A. FAIR PROMOTED, NOTABLE SCHOLASTIC RECORD. [by' TELEGRAPH. —OWN" COnitKSrONDENT. ] WELLINGTON'. Monday. Tho Cabinet lias decided to appoint, Mr. Arthur .Fair, principal law officer, to the position of Solicitor-General. Mr. Fair's position, which was created two years ago, will not be filled, and the position will lapse.

Mr. Fair was born in the mining settlement of Charleston, near ,Wcstport, on tho West Coast. Ho was the fourth son of the late Mr. James William Fair, who settled iheie in 1865 and carried on a drapery business until tho alluvial field gave out. The business was (hen transferred to Westport, where it is still being carried on by his eldest son.

The new Solicitor-General received his early education at tho Charleston primary school. Obtaining an Education Board scholarship, he" went to Nelson College and entered Victoria University College in 1904, at the saiy time going info the service of Messrs. Skerrett and Wylie. He had a brilliant, scholastic and university career, and secured the LL.B degree at tho age of 21 years, being admitted in (he same year to practise as a barrister of the Supreme Court of New Zealand Military Cross Winner. When war broke, out Mr. Fair had been spending six months in England. He enlisted in Kitchener's army and was awarded a commission with the Suffolk Regiment, with which lie served on tho Canal and in the Sinai and Palestine campaigns until 1919. He won the Military Cross in the big engagement of September 19, 1918, when over 100.000 Turks were captured by the British forces. He returned to New Zealand iu October, 1919, and commenced practice at Wellington at the beginning of 1920. In March, 1921. he was appointed Crown Solicitor, in succession to Mr. P. S. K. Mncassey, on the latter's appointment as Crown Prosecutor.

The administration of the legal work of the Crown will, with tho appointment, of Mr. Fair, he resumed as at the period of office of the former Solicitor-General. In September, 1923,. when the office fell vacant, it was not thought advisable for various reasons that held at tho time to fill the position. The Public Service Commissioner approved of tho creation of a new position, that of principal law officer, to which Mr. Fair was appointed, with authority to conduct xho ordinary business of the Government in the Courts in addition to his duties of Crown Solicitor. It was prescribed however that in important litigation affecting the Crown the services of outside counsel might be engaged, tho Crown always reserving tho right to prior service of King's Counsel. The object of the temporary arrangement was to ensure that the staff of the Crown Law Department would have the opportunity of promotion. Mr. Fair's activities in private life have been devoted mainly to the interests of returned soldiers. He was vice-president of the Wellington branch and for some time a, member of tho Dominion executive. He is a vice-president of the Wellington Lawn Tennis Club and a delegate to the Dominion council. He recently retired from the post of president of the Victoria University Graduates' Association, and occupies a seat on the Board of Governors. In 1923 Mr. Fair man led the second daughter of Dr. C. E Adams, Government, astronomer. Nelson College Record. Tho appointment of Mr. Fair as Solicitor-General draws somewhat pointed attention to the high educational qualifications of the teaching staff of Nelson College at the beginning of the century, when he was a student there. Without exception they have achieved distinction in the educational world. The headmuster, Mr. W. S. Littlejohn, became principal of Scots College, one of the leading secondary institutions in tho Commonwealth, Mr. C. E. Major, who was first assistant, is now principal of King's College, Auckland, Mr. F. Milner, who was second assistant, is now principal of Waitaki High School, Mr J. Drummond, the present principal of the Auckland Grammar School, was thfiV assistant, and the fourth assistant, Mr. C. H. Broad, is now headmaster of Nelson College. The dux of the school at the time, Mr. W. H. Moves, is now headmaster at the New Plymouth High School. " °