CELEBRATED LAWYERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10562, 13 April 1920, Page 7

CELEBRATED LAWYERS

INTERESTING REFERENCES TRIBUTES PAID IN THE COURT OK APPEAL. A biR gathering of members of the legal profession attended the opening of the Court of Appeal yesterday morning to pay tribute to the memories of two distinguished member.s who have lately crossed over to the greatest court of all, Messrs Walter Scott Reid and Charles Brueo Morison'. Their Honours on the Bench were Sir Robert Stout, Mr Justice Ud wards, and Jlr Justice Chapman Among those in the body of the court were Sir Francis Bell, lv.C, AttornevGoneral: Mr C. P. Skerrett, K.C.; Sir John Salmond, K.C., Solicitor-Gen-eral; Sir John Findlay, K.C; Mr A. Gray, K.C.: Mr MacGregor, K.C., Dunedin:Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M.; and JIrL <3. Reid, S.M. "The members of 'the profession have assembled at this opening of the Court of Appeal," said Sir Francis Bell, "to respectfully ask Your Honours' permission to make, through myself as Attor-ney-General, and Mr Skerrett as president of the New- Zealand Law Society, public reference to the loss we have sustained in the recent death of two of our members. AValter Scott Reid and Charles Bruce Morison, K.C." VALUE© AND INDUSTRIOUS PUBLIC SERVANTS. Mr Reid, said Sir Francis, was nearly the whole of his professional career in the public service. He first entered an office of the Government in ISGS, and he shortly afterwards resigned it. In 1871 lie accented an appointment as Assistant Law Officer under Sir James Frendergast. From 1871 to 1900 he rendered great public service in his professional capacity. When Sir James Prendergast was raised to the Bench as Chief Justice in 1875 Mr Reid accepted the permanent office as Solicitor-General, and he held it. until bis_ resignation in 1900. During that period there were several occasions en which the office of Attorney-General was vacant, and the solo duty of advising the Government fell on Mr Reid. But even when the rcolitical side was filled the duty of advisine the State on the multifarious matters arising fell, as it always would, on the permanent law officer. The public records showed the greatness of his work, and those who came into contact with him were able to testify to the care he gave to his very oneroun duties. There was general regret "when his resignation was announced. After his retirement ho accepted several important commissions and compiled works of value. This was not the first tirno that the New» Zealand Law Society had testified its appreciation of Mr Reid, for when the New Zealand Law Society was formed the delegates elected him the first president—a man whom some of them did not know personally, but whose record they knew and whose judgment thev respected. It was to his good judgment that the society owed much of it* g-uccess. He was -the son of an officer in the British Army who did good service in the wars of the Peninsula. "Wo desire to send a message of sympathy to those who are sorrowing since * his death.". ■

MR MORISON'S BRILLIANT CAREER.

In the case of Mr Morison their sense | of loss was even greater, for Mr Reid's end cams in the natural course alter « span ofV years of more than the ordinary number, but Mr Morison was taken from them rather prematurely in tho full vigour of life. No one could _ fail to remember how soon Mr Morison gained the confidence of the public and his edvancement as King's Counsel was accepted by the Bar (and they were keen critics), for they recognised his industry and his great ability. He wished to refer to the two special subjects in which he sained renown. First, he made himself a master of the intricacies of Native tand Jaw. He was draughtsman of much of the Native land legislation, and any impartial critic would concede that in that legislation would be found full protection of the Native rights with always a limit against the exaggeration of .those rights. Some years ago the Companies Act was consolidated, and before a committee of Parliament Sir Francis was summoned as a witness, and asked to undertake tho work. He was unable to do so, and recommended Mr Morison. as having bettor Qualifications than any other man ho could think of. The Act would remain as a lastincr record of Mr Morison's ability. He proposed, drafted and prepared that part of the Act relating to private companies, and his principles had receiva widespread adoption. Thev had been adopted in England. NOT SO MUCH THT- LAWYER AS THE! MAX.

But it was not so much of the lawyer that they were thinking. The loss "of the lawyer, the public shared with them; but thev were thinking of their comrade—'the man who fought unaided his own fight'and won through to the highest place. His courtesy, fairness and other good qualities they had hoped to enjoy longer. To his relatives they wished in all sinccrib- to express their sympathy with them in a sorrow which all. 'the profession shared. Mr C. P. Skerrett, K.C. said that the general body of the profession in New Zealand had asked him to express concurrence in all that. Sir Francis Bell had said. True Mr Reid was of a generation before most of the lawyers of In-day. but Mr Morison was a conteufpor.irv. Sir Francis Bell had well reminded Their Honours of the high talents and works of the late Mr Morison. His latest work, on the principles of the - •'••..,;0u -,f contracts, was ctiivfu) nnalysis. and a most valuable contribution to lecal literature, and. to say the least, it would bo a to n sontid and simple solution of the problem. Ther mourned him for his attainments, but more for his social finalities. Tie v,ns if a v«rv friendly disposition, and a less self-seeking mnn could not bo found. profession could ."ford to lose a man li'-"" Charles Ttruce Morison. Thev wished th/> sympathy of the nrr, f »«sinn to be «xtond»d to' the families of the deceased "entlp.roen. • TRIBUTE BY CHIEfF JUSTICE.

Tho Chief Justice said that all. were deeply grieved at tho death of two of our most celebrated lawyers. He had known Mr ]>id intimately for -15 years. Ho was associated with him during f \vo of His Honour's terms as Attorney-Gen-eral. Ho knew of no one morn-diligent :or more -kindly. . He was a man of tfreat ability and of Rreat capacity in managin~ business. His Honour had been associated with him on two Commissions—tho inaugurating of our Supremo Court practice and the consolidation of the Statutes. On both of these ha worked hard and his assistance was moat valuable. He did not appear much in court., bu'fc had he done so ho would have been ,iust as distinguished ,as he became in office work. Mr Morison. said tho Chief Justice, was nn able, keen and trustworthy lawyer. His Honour had soon a letter from Lord Haldane, who said he always kept on his table a copv of Sir Morison's W.l- nr \ the rescission of contracts. "Unconsidered it a most valuable work. Mr was an able lawyer, an able advocate, and a man of the highest character. • They felt that the family michf have some consolation when 'they knew their loss was felt by those outside vMorison'* homo who had met him. It was fittine that the Bar should have brought thesp matters before, the court at this sittl&a-