LATE SIR ROBERT STOUT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20621, 21 July 1930, Page 12

LATE SIR ROBERT STOUT.

DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN.

PERSEVERANCE AND GRIT.

MANY HIGH OFFICES.

ROSE TO BECOME PREMIER. Tlie death of Sir Robert Stout, at the ripe age of 85, removes one of New Zealand's most distinguished citizens, a man who served the country of his adoption as parliamentarian, judgo and educationist for more than 60 years.

Sir Robert was the last survivor of the men who were in public life in New Zealand half a century ago. nis career can bo pointed to as a brilliant example of tho height to which a man of individuality 3nd energy can rise in a democratic community. More than 60 years ago Sir Eobert came to New Zealand a humble worker in the causo of education, but filled with ambition for further knowledge. Dy sheer perseverance, largely on the lines of self-culture, ho made himself in course of time one of the best-informed persons in tho land. Starting with a primary school education, and the training of a pupil teacher, ho lived to be Premier of New Zealand, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, 'Acting-Governor of the Dominion, one cif His Majesty's Privy Councillors, admitted to sit on tho Judicial Committee, Chancellor of the University of New Zealand,' Hon. D.C.L. of Oxford and Hon. LL.D. of Edinburgh and Manchester.

Education and Legal Training. Born at Lerwick, in the Shetland Islands, in 1844, Sir Robert was educated in the parish school of his native town, in which ho became a pupil teacher at the age of 13. When 19 years of age, after having passed with moro than ordinary credit all tho examinations attaching to his pupil-teachcrship, he came to New Zealand, arriving at Dunedin early in 1864. Soon afterwards ho became second master of tho Dunediu Grammar School, and later second master in the North Dunedin district school, holding the latter position until the close of 1867. In 1868 ho commenced the study of law, and in July, 1871, he was admitted to practice as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme C-ourt. Immediately afterwards ho went into partnership with Mr. Sievwright, a leading Dunedin barrister. For three sessions, 1873-75, Sir R-obert was law lecturer at Otago University, relinquishing tho position when he entered Parliament. His public career began in 1874 when he was elected to the Otago Provincial Council, which, however, ceased to function a year later, on tho abolition by Parliament of the provincial system. Entry Into Parliament. It was in 1875 that Sir' Robert first took his seat in Parliament, as representative of Caversham. Abolition of the provinces ■was the political question of the hour, and Sir Robert immediately threw himself into the ranks of the opponents of the movement, which, however, it is a matter of history, was effective, the provinces giving place to the county system of local government ;in 1876. In the general election of December, 1875, he was

returned as a representative of Dunedin City. A strong advocate of the democratic cause, as against the squatters who were a powerful influence in Parliament in thoso days, ho immediately took rank among the most forceful debaters—a notable company. Among Sir Robert's legislative colleagues in his first session were such makers of history as Sir Francis Dillon Bell, who was Speaker of the House, and afterwards became Agent-General; Sir Maurice O'Rorke, not yet knighted, but already Chairman of Committees; Sir Harry Atkinson, Mr. John Ballance, Sir Charles Bowen, Mr. Jclin Bryce, Sir William Fitzherbert, Sir George Grey, Mr. D. M. Luckic, Sir Donald McLean, Messrs. William Montgomery, J. D. Ormond, Vincent Pyko and John Shechan, Sir Edward Stafford, Sir W, J. Steward, Sir Julius Vogel, Mr. Jorningham Wakefield, Sir Cracroft Wilson, and Mr. Reader Wood. And the then Mr. Robert Stout, even at that early stage, was among the forces that counted in legislation. Short-Lived Ministries. When, in 1877, Sir George Grey formed his Liberal Ministry, fir Robert took ofEcc as Attorney-General, Minister of Lands, Minister of Education and Minister of Immigration. In 1879, however, ho found it necessary to withdraw from Parliament, owing to the urgent demands of private business, occasioned through the serious illness of his partner. Again Sir Robert entered the nolitical arena in 1884, when he v.as returned for Dunedin East. That year he became Premier of tho first Stout-Vogel Ministry, which, however, survived for only 12 days, and then gave place to otiw ot the Atkinson Ministries, which lasted only fix clays, then tho Stout-Vogel Ministry resumed office, and endured until October, 1887. In that year occurred another general election, which restored the Atkinson Party to power. An event which amazed the rest of the colony was the defeat of tho Premier himself by a hitherto unknown man, whom we know to-day as Sir James Allen, since then Reform Minister and High Commissioner, who had ;t majority over Sir Robert of 29 votes. Several members were willing to resign in Sir Robert's favour, bnt he declined their offers and for some years devoted himself wholly to his law practice. Return to Politics. Meanwhile tho Atkinson Government had again lost office, and that, headed by Mr Ballanco camo in. In 1893 Mr. Ballance was seized with his mortal illness, and urged S;r Robert Stout, who had been his lifelong friend and his Ministerial colleague, to re-enter politics, offering, so it was stated at the time, to resign his own seat, Wanganui, to give the opportunity Sir Robert declined to accept the sacrifice, but undertook to contest tho first seat that became vacant. The opportunity camo with the resignation by Mr 11. H J. Reeves of tho luangahua scat, to which Sir Robert was elected in Juno. 1893. by a largo majority ©vcr Mr. P. J O'Regan. In tho general election at tlio end of that year Sir Robert was returned for Wellington City, which ho continued to represent for the remainder of his Parliamentary life The final Mverance took place by resignation, on February 10. 1898, Sir Robert explaining ptMicly nt Iho time that his duty his fan/ily demanded that for sorr.o lltf.fi £'/ f lit should devote all his uitAulUrtt to hfixiuess. ! For tho next 16 rriorif.hs fUr ftot^rl continued his law practice On the resignation by Sir James I'ren'ferg-i;t oi I h'< office of Chief Justice, in ,/nne, MM), Sir Robert Stout was appointed fit hi?, •successor, and ho continued on the Bench until 1926, when he was succeeded by the lato Sir Charles Skerrett. Throughout his judicial career, ns. indeed, in aH hi 3 public and private life, cno of Sir Robert's distinguishing characteristic# was his phenomena] industry 1 At hours of the tioruing when most other , ffien wore resting, he. would ho found in

his Ministerial office or at. the Supremo Court delving into official papers, affidavits, or law books. His hours of sitting in Court were a trial to much younger men practising at the Bar, and it was an axiom in the districts whero he travelled on circuit that, on any of his visits Sir Robert could be relied upon to clear up all tho business that had accumulated in previous months, no matter what, hours ho found it necessary to sit, in Court or in chambers to accomplish tho feat. Wide Range ol Interests. It might be supposed that so industrious a man would find his time wholly occupied by his official work. On the contrary, Sir Robert was always able to find time to assist any literary or philosophical society that mado a call upon his attention. His branches of personal study were numerous and varied, and Sir Robert was ready to accede, to a request for a literary, scientific or philosophical lecturo to any society within reasonable reach. Sir Robert untiringly championed (he cause of "free, secular and compulsory education'' against those who would restore any measure of religious control over the expenditure of public education funds. It was largely through his efforts tha,t the bill establishing Victoria University College was passed and for a number of years he was tho chairman of its governing body. As was fitting in tho case of one who had had to work diligently in self-culture and was thoroughly humanitarian in spirit, Sir Robert was enthusiastic in regard to all branches of education. Throughout his period of public life ho has been an active member of some educational body, starting from school committees and working onwards to high school boards, education boards, the Otago University Council and the Senate of tho University of New Zealand, of which he was chancellor from 1903 to 1923. A lifelong upholder of total abstinence, ho was for many years a colleague of Sir William Fox in the temperance movement and had much to do with the introduction of prohibition by local option. Conferment of Title. Tho rank of K.C.M.G. was conferred upon Sir Robert in 18S6, when ho was still in Ministerial office, and was the subject of wide comment at the time, seeing that, its recipient had been understood to be so thoroughgoing in bis democracy as to condemn distinction of rank. It was stated in print that the title was given on tho advice of the Liberal Ministry in England and that Sir Robert himself had not been aware of the intention to confer it and had not been aware that it was to bo bestowed until tho offer was mado. Knight or commoner, ho was in spirit and action a man of the people, always ready to give his assistance to any movement having for its object the well-being of his fellow-citizens.

When Sir Robert, in 1921, after nearly 22 years' service as Chief Justice, relaxed from his close attention to official duty to the extent of making a 12-months' tour to the Old Country with Lady Stout he was presented by the Wellington Bar with a portrait of himself in oils. Tho presentation was the occasion of a notable gathering of the whole bench of judges and leading members of the legal profession, the Attorney-General, Sir Francis Bell, being spokesman for the donors. In the same year Sir Robert was honoured by being made a member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and received the honorary degrees of LL.D., Manchester; LL.D., Edinburgh: and D.C.L., Oxford. His service upon tho Bench lasted until 1926, when, at tha age of 82, he resigned and was immediately appointed to a seat in the Legislative Council. There, so long as ilia health permitted, ho took an active part in debates and even fathered several measures, including one to create a New Zealand nationality. Sir Robert married in 1376 Miss Anna Paterson Logan, daughter of a wellknown Otago resident, Mr. John Logan. Their family consists of four sons ami one daughter, namely, Mr. J. Logan Stout, S.M., of Palmerston North; Dr. Robert Stout, Dr. Duncan Stout and Mr. Olaf Stout, of Wellington; and Mrs. T. N. Holmden, of Auckland. There are a number of grandchildren. Lady Stout has taken a keen interest in public questions affecting women and while visiting England prior to the war she gave active support to the woman suffrage movement.