JUDGE RETIRING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21759, 26 March 1934, Page 11

JUDGE RETIRING

MR. JUSTICE MacGREGOR AGE LIMIT REACHED A DISTINGUISHED CAREER [BY TELEGRAPH —I'HESS ASSOCIATION ] WELLINGTON, Saturday Mr. Justice MacGrcgor, of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, is due to retire on April 14 next. On that date he will have reached the retiring age of 72 years. As far as is known, the question of filling the vacancy on the Bench has not been considered by the Government.

Mr. Justice MacGregor was born at Paisley, Scotland, his father being the Rev. I)r. James MacGregor, who was professor of systematic theology at New College, Edinburgh, until he came to New Zealand and settled at Oamaru. The future Judge attended Watson's College, Edinburgh, and was studying at Edinburgh University when his health gave cause for anxiety. He arrived in Dunedin in 1881 and entered the office of Messrs. Stewart and Denniston, solicitors. Two years later ho passed his final law examination at the University of Otago, taking first place for the whole of New Zealand and being awarded the Canterbury Law Society's gold medal.

Mr. MacGregor set up in practice on his own account in Dnnedin about 1890 and for many years was solicitor to the City Council, in 1898 he was president of "the Otago Law Society. Five years later, on the appointment of Mr. F. R. (now Sir Frederick) Chapman to the Bench, he joined the firm then known as Smith, MacGregor and Sinclair, and later as MacGregor and Ramsay. His official career began in 1914, when he was appointed Crown solicitor in Dunedin and a K.C. In 1920 he went to Wellington as Solicitor-General, a position he held until his elevation to the Bench in September, 1923. In his earlier years at the Bar. Mr. MacGregor was a frequent contributor to the press in New Zealand and Britain. He was long associated with the Round Table movement and published "Ideals of Empire" in 1908. He attained some note as a cricketer and footballer in the 'eighties and later took up golf, being twice champion of the Otago Club. His Honor sat in Auckland on many occasions, but the greater part of his judicial service has been performed in the "Wellington district.