FAREWELL TO MR A. S. ADAMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18197, 18 March 1921, Page 3

FAREWELL TO MR A. S. ADAMS

THE LEGAL PROFESSION’S TRIBUTE. Tnc Otago Law Society, yesterday afternoon tendered a complimentary farewell to Mr A. S. Adams, who will in all probability shortly be going to Auckland to take up his new judicial duties. The gathering took place in the Savoy lounge room, and was presided over by Mr A. James, president of the Otago haw Society. It was «• large one, and thoroughly representative of the profession, among those present being Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M. The president read a number of apologies from others, who expressed their high appreciation of the qualities of the guest of the afternoon and their congratulations and good wishes on his appointment. The President said that Dunedin had been called the nursery of judges, and there was no doubt there was some truth in that. The appointments made from Dunedin in the past had met with the genera} approval of members of the profession and of the community, and had proved most excellent; but he ventured to say that no previous appointment had met with more universal approval than the present one Mr Adams was called to the Bar in 1883, and from that time onward he had carried on a large and successful practice. He had made good both in the courts and in general practice. He had brought to the performance of his duties a very considerable amount of ability and tremendous industry. He was well known for his- thoroughness, and he had had an extensive practice in the courts not only in Otago, but in other parts of the dominion, and especially in the Court of Appeal. Mr Adams, like all other barristers, had had his successes and his reverses in the courts, and he might tell a little story to show on what a slender thread success or failure sometimes hung. Not long since, when a high judge was sitting in Dunedin, their friend had not - had his usual success, and two members of the profession were commenting on the fact. One explained it by saying- that the high judge, who strongly disapproved of smoking, had just learned that Mr Adams had taken to smoking a pipe.—(Laughter.) He trusted nevertheless that Mr Adams would not forgo that pleasure, though he ventured to think that on behalf of his fellow men Mr Adams had forgone some considerable pleasures.—(Laughter.) Mr Adams had not only been an ornament to the profession, but he had been a good citizen, and had interested himself in many different phases of public life. He had found time from a .very busy practice to devote a tre mendous amount of time to advocating a great reform which he had at heart. His advocacy of this reform had been so great that his name was a household word in New Zealand and Australia not only in private houses, but in public-houses.—(Laugh-ter.) Although the profession generally did not see eye to eye with Mr Adams in this, they all admired his fearless, steadfast, persevering advocacy, and it would always stand to him that he knew neither fear noi favour in advocating prohibition. On behalf of the {profession, he conveyed to Mr Adams their heartfelt congratulations m his appointment to the Supreme Court judgeship, and voiced their regret that the appointment necessitated his removal from among them. Mr Adams would be missed They all hoped and trusted that he would be long spared to adorn the high office to which ho had been called. Mr S. Solomon, K.C., referred to the fact that he had been brought up side by side with Mr Adams, and had met him continually. They knew how difficult it was for the Government to get judges at the present time, but in his opinion there was no man in New Zealand, if the Government had had absolute freedom of choice, so well fitted to occupy tne Supremo Court Bench as Mr A. S. Adams. Mr Adams was a man of strong opinions and of good, sound common sense, and his amiability was another quality that specially fitted him for the task that lay Ixnore him. Mr Adams had won his position through no opportunities others had given him, but entirely “off his own bat.” Mr J. A. Cook, as one of the elder member of the profession, said that his acquantance with Mr Adams extended over a period of 30 years. Of late years Mr Adams had made his mark in the higher courts, and had risen to be one of the leading advocates, not only in Dunedin, but in New Zealand. The profession, both here and throughout the dominion, viewed with the greatest satisfaction the appointment that the Legislature had made. A further characteristic required of a judge, besides long practice, industry, and knowledge, was temperament. The profession had been most happy in the temperament of the judges with whom they had been associated here, and Mr Adams possessed that temperament that would enable him to preside over the court with equal dignity and comfort to the profession. Mr G. Mondy said he would go further Back than' any of the previous speakers, and stated that Mr Adams had entered the profession in 1879. The founder of the firm of Adams Bros., Mr J. A. D. Adams, who they had with them, had graduated from the" firm of Sievwright and Stout. If there was one thing that impressed him about Mr Adams, it was his great sense of fairness. In 40 years’ dealings he did not remember striking one jarring note in all their business relations. He joined with the previous speakers in expressing the opinion that Mr Adams had all the qualities that went to the making of a good judge. Personally, he wished him all success in the future.

Mr Adams, who ( was very cordially applauded, said they had made it very difficult for him to say anything in response to their very kind reception ot the intimation of his appointment as judge of the Supreme Court. He had listened to their words and heard the friendly assent of the brethren assembled, and .while he found it difficult to believe that all the things they had said about him would stand the test one, applied in a- court of law,, they had at least thrown the mantle of their too generous charity over his sins. He certainly would not be the one to take it away and expose himself where he had so happily escaped censure. He had had the very great happiness of practising among those present and other members of the profession for upwards of 30 years, and possibly it was not given to very many to arrive at the end of so long a period of actual practice and be able to say that the memory bad to be searched very hard to find any disagreeable note struck in that long period of practice, notwithstanding the fact that he had had frequently to engage in strenuous opposition and to express views widely divergent from those of his brethren, and to take action that might very often have been misunderstood. He felt, and always would feel, very irldebtod to members of the profession for their extreme generosity and kindness. After all these years he was not conscious of any unpleasant recollection that would mar the retrospect. He wished to tell them how grateful he was for their congratulations and for all their past kindness. During the remaining period ,of his active life ho would most certainly endeavour not to put to shame the prophecies they had spoken or their expectations of him. The one fly in the ointment was that he would not be able to remain with them, for ho loved Dunedin with a passionate love. He did not know that the president had accurately gauged the feeling of members of the legal profession oh the great reform referred to, hut he did know there was a good time coming. Perhaps it might be the last opportunity he would have, so he might (oil them it would be a very good thing when it did come. Mr James: Mr Barling asked if it would come this afternoon, but I said I was afraid it could not. —(Laughter.) Mr Adams said he would treasure to his latest day the memory of the happy' years, in which he had been associated with them all and with .others who had been in the fight in the past. He hoped they would never have reason to abate very much ol tho kind sentiments to which they had given utterance about himself. He could riot close without acknowledging his very great indebtedness from the time he first entered a legal office to his brother. Mr ,1. A. D. Adams. Ho owed practically everything to his help and guidance. Tho President, expressed their pleasure at having Mr J, A. D. Adams with them. Mr Adams said that when he took his brother as a little boy into his office, would they believe it, he had thought of a career for him in which lie might finish a strenuous life ‘in a position very much like that he had just entered? He had always been proud of his brother, and that day he was prouder of him than ever. Afternoon tea and refreshments were then handed round, and some time spent in pleasant social intercourse. •