LIFE OF ACHIEVEMENT.

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

LIFE OF ACHIEVEMENT.

HIS PART IN POLITICS. EVENTS FIFTY YEARS AGO. GREAT CAPACITY FOR WORK. nv THE HON. \V. H. TRIGGS, M.T,.C. " Know ye not (hut ;v lirinoo and a great man is fallen this day in Israel?" Those words from (lie lament of King David over (lie death of Aimer are at once brought, to the mind hv tho news of the passing of Sir Robert Stout. New Zealand lias lfccn exceptionally fortunate in her public men, but for mental capacity, uprightness of character, and allround distinction Sir Robert Stout will always stand high in (ho illustrious beadroll. His story presents another striking example of the opportunities for advancement which New Zealand offers (o those who have tho talent, industry and deter initiation to take advantage of them. A Scottish parish school education, reinforced by the Scottish virtues of frugality, industry and determination, is no bar! preparation for life, as numerous examples testify. Sir Robert Stout, who was deeply attached to the Shetland Islands, his birthplace, was fond of quoting the many Shetlanders who had distinguished (hemstives in various walks of life. lie was equally proud of the fact that every man in Lerwick of military age volunteered for active service in the Great War. Ho must have learned much in his island homo beyond what he waa taught in school. Ho has often (old mo what a well-read, thoughtful class the Shetlanders were. He attributed it largely to the long winters, with their brief span of daylight, and long winter nights, when tho inhabitants were forced to remain indoors, and spent much time in rending, because there was nothing else for them to do. A Modern Viking.

He often spoke of his unple James as one of tiic best-read, most well-informed men he It ad ever known. He recalled his excellent library, and the interesting discussions around his tablo and fireside, thcfuture Chief Justice, we may be sure, taking it all in, and, if not breaking into the discussion with an opinion of his own, longing (o do so. In the South of England, in my young days, tlia adage, "Children should be seen and not heard." was very firmly held by the grown-ups. Tho Shetland Island ciders may have been more tolerant, and, shall I say?—wiser But the young people of to-day have no cause to complain. 1 am told that it is they who do all the talking, and tlio eld el's who have to keep silence. Sir Robert's love for the place of his birth and his pride in his Norse ancestry were very noticeable. His family, it is said, came from Norway 500 years ago in a raid of the Vikings. There is certainly an Olaf Stout mentioned i:i the Saga, and it is said ho was the leader in the invasion of the Shetlands. There was a good deal of the. Viking in Sir Robert Stout. In the prime of his manhood he was a man of noble presence, at least 6ft. high, and well-proportioned. With his white beard, which ho used to wear very long, and handsome face, he was a striking figure in any gathering at which he was present, and on the. Bench ho was particularly impressive, the more so because his dignified presence was combined with a suave and urbane manner. At the Bar and in the parliamentary arena the fighting strain of the Viking came out. On occasion lie was trenchant and aggressive, but ho knew tho value of persuasiveness and an appeal to reason, and acted accordingly. He especially shone in addressing a jurv. Kaleidoscopic Politics.

I first saw Sir Robert over 50 years ago, when he was Attorney-General and Minister of Lands in Sir George Grey's Ministry, but had no personal acquaintance with him. I saw more of him in the memorable Parliamentary session of 1884, which witnessed his entry into tho Premiership. It was probably thf> most exciting session in the history of our Parliament. No fewer than three Ministeries wero formed in rapid succession. The first was led by Sir Julius Vogel. who had been brought back to New Zealand to see if he could lift the country out of the depression which then existed. Everyone admitted his ability, but a good many thought liis schemes a little too venturesome and his Ministry only lasted from August .16 to August 28, when it fell, and .Major Atkinson was again sent for. That only lasted a week, and after futilo negotiations for a coalition between Atkinson and Vogel, a Stout-Vogel Ministry was formed, and lasted from September 3, 1384, to October 8, 1887. It was a curious arrangement. Stout was to be the Premier and Vogel Colonial Treasurer (Finance Minister) " with precedence." It was aptly described as " Vogel with the brake on." Stout, in his speeches, could bo as idealistic—shall I soy as Utopian and dreamy?—as Sir George Grey. But, when it camo lo administration and framing legislation, Stout's sound knowledge of political economy and native caution and common sense could be trusted to keep the ship of State on a .safe course. A Samoan Crisis. One of the debts of gratitude that New Zealand owes to that Ministry is tho fact th it both Sir Julius Vogel and Sir Robert Stout fully realised tho importance of the Pacific in tho shaping of world politics. Sir Robert had visited Samoa on some legal business and was very favourably impressed both with the islands and tho people, of whom ho always spoke very highly. Roth he and Sir Julius Vogel were greatly concerned on account of (lie menacing advance of Germany in tho Pacific, and repeatedly expressed their fears to the ITomo Government. At- that, time the Samoans wore very anxious to come under British protection, and had. in fact, expressed a desire to lie annexed to New Zealand. When the Germans took possession of a great part of Now Guinea the Stout-Vogel Government, became more than ever alarmed. They made an urgent appeal to the English Government to accede to the petition of the Samoans, and they actually commissioned ttie steamer Hincmoa and kept her with steam up for several days, in readiness fri send her down to the Samoan Group to hoist the British flag on getting authority from Home. But the Homo Government at that time was desperately anxious not to oli'i>nd Prince Bismarck, and not only resolutely refused to agree to the colonial Government's request but showed a nervous anxiety lest (he latter by an unauthorised action of their own should bring about an international crisis. Subsequently as is well known, they camo to an agreement with tlin Germans, by which the latter, in return for recognising the independence of Tonga, and making certain concessions in Africa, wero allowed to take possession of Western Samoa. I havo said that in Parliament Sir Robert Stout was a most, powerful debater. He had a habit, when an opponent was speaking, of emitting a most scornful laugh, which most of those opposed to him found very disconcerting. It is no secret that he was greatly disappointed when, on tho death of Mr. Ballanco, Mr. Seddon was chosen leader of tho Liberal Party, especially as Mr. Ballance had himself expressed a wis.li that his first lieutenant should be his successor.

What followed is accurately staled by Mr. Gisborne in his "Rulers of New Zealand":—"For the next threo years (after Mr. Seddon was elected Premier) there was tho strange spectacle of Sir Robert Stout, with a few personal followers, holding himself aloof from his former party, and gradually drifting into Opposition." At that time, with Sir Francis Hell and Mr. John Diithio, ho represented Wellington City. At tho general election of 1896 he was returned classed with the Opposition. In 1890 Mr. Seddon appointed him Chief Justice, in succession to Sir James Prendergast, who had resigned. In doing so ho undoubtedly selected the best man available, and so did credit to himself as well as acting in tho best interests of tho country. Everyone who canio into close contact with Sir Robert Stout must have boon iin pressed with his immense capacity for work. Even when ho was at his busiest, administering the affairs of the country, as Premier, or sitting on the Bench of the Supremo Court, ho managod to got through an immenso amount of reading. Ilis favourite study was philosophy, and ho seemed to take in, almost at a glanco, the most abstruse works of Haldano or Balfour. Sir Robert read a. good deal of French, chiefly reviews and current works on philosophy, but he was, above all, an omnivorous reader of magazines and reviews, American as well as English. lie was as indefatigable with his pen as he was in devouring the writings of others.

Prohibition and Religion. Sir Robert's enthusiasm in the of prohibition, and his antipathy to tobaccosmoking arc well known, anct need not be further referred to here. This notice would not be complete, however, without some reference to his attitude toward religion, in recard to which ho was often misjudged. Those who knew Sir Robert intimately, ktiew that lie had every essential of a Christian gentleman. In private life lie was kindliness itself, and so unassuming that the poorest and humblest at once felt, at home with him. He was animated by the highest ideals, and bis life was pure and beyond reproach. But he could not bring himself to accept tho miraculous element in religion. He took the greatest interest in the study of religions, and his knowledge of theological works astonished his clerical friends, of whom ho had many. Many a young Nonconformist minister is indebted to the departed Chief Justice for encouragement in his studies, and for the loan of books from Sir Robert's library. On several occasions ho delivered ethical addresses from tho pulpits of Nonconformist churches. In 1907 he went to England, and, "more suo," he wrote a little book giving some of his impressions. There is a chapter headed " Churches," which is interesting as showing the broad spirit in which Sir Robert viewed the various forms of religious worship, and the pains he took to investigate things for himself. On that tour he visited Buddhist and Hindoo temples and a. mosque in Ceylon At Port Said hp went to tho Greek Church on Easter Sunday, and to another mosque. In Franco bo went to many Roman Cathode cathedrals and churches. A Final Tribute. In England ho attended many churches, Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Congregational, Unitarian, etc. He describes these churches and services, and gives his impressions of the various forms of worship in a detached kind of way, much as an inquiring spirit from Mars might bo expected to do. In another chapter, headed "Prophets," ho tells us of tho different preachers to whom he listened, and the impression each made upon him. One is reminded of the words of Tennyson : Yet I doubt, not through tho ages ono increasing purpose runs— And the thoughts of men are widened with the proce33 of the suns. The same poet has said :—■ There lives ninro faith in honest doubt. Believe me, than iu half tho eree<h«. Many will grievo that the great, man who has departed was not vouchsafed a clearer vision of the verities in which they believe, but they will all admit that his life was beyond reproach, and that, he has left a record of beneficent achievement, and a noble example for others to follow. And so, I feel that I cannot better conclude than in the moving words with which Izaak Walton ended his tribute to Sir Henry Wotton, whom he spoke of as "dying, worthy of his name arid family, worthy of the love and favour of so many princes and persons of eminent wisdom and learning, worthy of the trust committed to him for the service, of his prince, and country." I would also say, with tho contemplative fisherman, " And all readers are requested to believe that ho was worthy of a more worthy pen to have preserved bis memory and committed his merits to tho imitation of posterity."