SIR MICHAEL MYERS HONOURED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22963, 19 August 1936, Page 5

SIR MICHAEL MYERS HONOURED

NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY’S LUNCHEON MANY TRIBUTES PAID LORD BLEDISLOE’S APPRECIATION (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON, July 18. Sir Michael Myers, Chief Justice of New Zealand, was honoured by the New Zealand Society when, with Lady Myers, he was the principal guest at luncheon at the Savoy Hotel on July 15. Many distinguished New Zealanders and Englishmen gathered to meet him and listen to tributes paid him by Sir James Parr (High Commissioner), Lord Bledisloe, and Mr Malcolm MacDonald (Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs). Lord Hewart, Lord Chief Justice of England, was to have been present, but he was prevented owing to pressure of work. In a note of apology to Sir James Parr, he expressed “ severe disappointment ” at his enforced absence. Loi’d Hewart has a very kindly regard for New Zealand, regarding which he wrote: “ I owe a personal debt which I will not attempt to estimate.” ■ In Sir James Parr’s opinion, Sir Michael Myers is “ undoubtedly one of New Zealand’s most distinguished sons, and, perhaps, New Zealand’s most distinguished citizen,” for he not only occupied the honourable, responsible, and great position of Chief Justice, but on several occasions had represented the King during the absence of the GovernorGeneral. He had done so with distinction, dignity, and ability, and it was an honour that had fallen to no other New Zealand-born citizen. A GREAT LAWYER

Sir Michael Myers, said Sir James, when proposing the toast of their guest, was a great lawyer. In the law and by the law, he had made the name which stood so high today. His career had not been surpassed by that of any other lawyer in New Zealand, which had been fortunate in having many great lawyers. He had been lucky when his fate took him to the office of Sir Francis Bell, where his early years were spent and where he studied. Sir Michael undoubtedly owed a great deal of his success to Sir Francis. *

He had enjoyed the most wide and varied practice at the Bar of any New Zealand lawyer, and a monotonous characteristic of his career was that he always won his cases, whether commercial, parliamentary or election petitions. He had a capacity for enormous hard work, for suavity and for neverfailing tactfulness. He never lost his temper in or out of court. The fact that he was New Zealand’s most successful advocate was proved when, in 1926, he argued five cases before the Privy Council and won them all. In the midst of all his work, Sir Michael had taken a keen interest in world affairs, and, in Wellington, he was the president of some 50 different associations. “HIS TEMPER”

Sir Michael, while thanking Sir James for his “ generous appreciation,” doubted the accuracy of the statement that he never lost his temper. “There is,” he admitted, with a smile, glancing at Lady Myers, “ someone in the room who might give a more accurate testimony.”

“ It is a great pleasure.” he said, in thanking the society for its reception, “ to meet so many of my friends and fellow-citizens. It is also a great pleasure to see Lord Bledisloe, who will always be recognised by the people of New Zealand

as one of the best Governors-General the King has ever sent to New Zealand.” Referring to a' proposed visit to New Zealand by Lord and Lady Hewart, he gave an assurance of a warm welcome and declared that Lord Hewart was regarded ‘‘more or less as a New Zealander,” for,, he explained, nationality could be acquired in various ways, by birth, marriage or naturalisation. Also, as a Maori chief had once claimed, with memories of his forefather? having devoured a Scotsman, it could be acquired by “^absorption.” IMPROVED CONDITIONS Sir Michael said that he must disappoint those who hoped he would make some reference to the im- * portant changes in New Zealand, as. being a member of the judiciary, his lips were sealed and he must make no reference to controversial subjects. Were it otherwise it would not be long before the judges of New Zealand lost the public’s respect and confidence, which the Supreme Court had always held from its commencement. If judges committed i any breach of that tradition, their | independence would itself be in 1 jeopardy. He could, however, say that by reason of the increased prices for her produce in the overseas markets, the general conditions of New Zealand had vastly improved and were still improving. Lord Galway was carrying out the traditions of the high office to which lie had been appointed, and although he and 1 Lady Galway had been in New Zealand for a short period, they had gained the cordial esteem and affection of the people throughout the country. | Reference to the Governor-General, whose presence as the King’s representative was the tangible evidence of the link that bound New Zealand to the Crown, led Sir Michael to make an observation which, he con- ! sidered, a judge was permitted. When, 10 years ago, he returned to i New Zealand he had told members ; of the Bar at a reception that the Privy Council was the best tribunal in the world. He believed it then, and he believed it now, the more so, perhaps, as he had become a member of that august body. It had been mentioned recently in the English press that during the last two months there had been in England no fewer than four overseas members of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, each one of whom had sat as a member of the tribunal. They were the Chief Justice of Canada, the former Chief Justice and later Governor-General of Australia, the senior judge of the High Court of Australia, and himself. Last week, for the first time, there had sat with the lords in the Court of .Appeal two Chief Justices from overseas, the Chief Justice of Canada and himself. THE EMPIRE TRIBUNAL “ This shows that the Privy Council is in truth and in fact, and not merely in theory, a real Empire tribunal,” Sir Michael declared. | “ New Zealand is one country in which the right of the people to appeal to the King in-Council has ■ remained throughout the years un- ! impaired and intact, and there never j has been in New Zealand any sugi gestion that that tie should be ! severed or in any way prejudicially 1 affected. It is to my mind an excellent thing that the overseas members of that body should occasionally come to England and should occasionally sit with the members of that tribunal, because it serves to emphasise one of the only two remaining links between the dominions overseas and the Mother Country. I hope and believe that nothing will ever be done by New Zealand or New Zealanders to forfeit its high place in the affection ■ of the Mother Country.” LORD BLEDISLOE “UNPREPARED ” j Lord Bledisloe, proposing the toast : of the visitors in the absence of I Lord Hewart, humorously declared that it was a task for which he was

quite unfitted and unprepared. It could not be for his ability as a New Zealander that he had been asked to do so, for whatever he might be at heart he could not be judged by Sir Michael Myers’s conditions of native claims to be a New Zealander by birth, by marriage, or by cannibalistic assimilation. He had certainly seen some very appetising people in New Zealand, but he had never yet contemplated making a meal of them.

When the laughter had subsided, Lord Bledisloe continued: “ I can imagine no one who could more truly have maintained very high traditions to the legal profession in New Zealand than Sir Michael Myers has done,” he said. “ I am afraid that I was responsible for throwing more ancilliary duties upon his shoulders than any of my predecessors by delegating to him the sometimes delicate task of representing the King. I can truly tell you that I was perfectly happy, whether visiting the Pacific Islands or, quite improperly during a term of office, Australia, to leave the representation of his Majesty in his strong and capable hands.”

Before referring to the visitors, Lord Bledisloe illustrated his difficulty by quoting a saying: “ There is very great complexity in particularising when there is an immense amount of distinction among those whom you do not mention.” But there were several whom he did propose to mention. They had with them Vice-admiral Sir William James, deputy chief of the naval staff of the Admiralty. That staff had never had a more delicate or strenuous work, said Lord Bledisloe than at the present time. He hoped that Sir William realised that, in the matter of Empire security, New Zealand could not be left out of the picture. LORD NUFFIELD

Another distinguished visitor was Lord Nuffield, who, during a short visit to New Zealand less than two years ago, gave £60,000 for its crippled children. “Am I wrong in praising him as the prince of generous and wise philanthropists in the Empire? ” asked Lord Bledisloe. “There is no man in the Empire who, to a greater extent, reacts in a practical* way to the religious faith in him.” There was also Mr J. Dulanty, High Commissioner for the Irish Free State in London, whose presence “ indicates the friendly sympathy between the different parts of the Empire, which is so largely responsible for its sense of security and solidarity.” “ We also have Sir Henry Horton and Lady Horton,” continued Lord Bledisloe. “I am sure I shall not be exaggerating if I say that I am perfectly convinced that there is no higher level of journalistic achievement and integrity to be found anywhere in the British Empire than in New Zealand. With all the merits which New Zealanders possess, I cannot help thinking that the feeling and confidence that is so warmly entertained for New Zealand in the Old Land is in no small measure due to the integrity which the press of New Zealand as a body lias always meted out in their various newspapers.” MISS JEAN BATTEN

•There is also Miss Jean Batten, most intrepid of airwomen in the British Empire and in the world. All must feel extremely pleased and duly flattered by learning that she has received a high distinction at the hands of his Majesty. May 1 express the hope that she will never be led along the paths ftf ultratemerity which has brought the careers of many pilots to a close. We have with us also Mr Theodore Godlee, solicitor to the New Zealand Government in London for 60 years. I would not have his job for anything. Long may he live to continue to give us his wise advice.”

Lord Bledisloe also referred to Mrs Fountaine, granddaughter of Sir Donald Mac Lean and wife of Vice-admiral C. A. Fountaine; to Lady Hewarl, “ wife of the Lord

Chief Justice of England, who never shov/ed his .judicial capacity to greater or more convincing extent than when he chose a lady from New Zealand to share his home ”, and to Mr Malcolm MacDonald, Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, than whom there was “no more alert member of the British Cabinet.”

A reply to this “comprehensive, charming and kind oration ” by “ one of the most popular and most successful of Governors-General,” was made by Mr MacDonald. He had, he said, prepared to unseal his lips for three-quarters of an hour, but everyone would, no doubt, be relieved to know that he was only going to speak for a few minutes. “ I am,” Mr MacDonald confided, “ in very great danger of losing my job, unless I have lost it already. Certain awkward questions are to be asked in the House of Commons this afternoon, and have to be replied to in a very few minutes. At the moment I know the questions, but I’m blessed if I know the answers.—(Laughter.) I will, of course, have to reply to my permanent officials.” Before he left he wished to say how delighted he was to be among those honouring Sir Michael Myers and to meet and hear once again, “a fine lawyer, a very charming man, and a great New Zealander.”

Others guests included: Sir Lynden Macassey, K.C., Sir D. Somervell, K.C., and Lady Somervell, Sir Edward and Lady Harding, Rearadmiral F. Burges-Watson and Mrs Burges-Watson, Lady Nuffield, Miss Sheila MacDonald, Sir George and Lady Shirtcliffe, Mr and Mrs D. F. Reid, Mr and Mrs R. S. Forsyth, Mr and Mrs H. E. Davis, Mr and Mrs F. Deverell, Mr and Mrs H. P, Chinchen, Captain Donald Simson, Mr and Mrs James Begg, Mr C. D. Morpeth, Mr and Mrs A. Sims, Dr Arthur E. Porritt, Mr J. E. Lovelock, the New Zealand Olympic team, Mr F. Goldberg, Mr Ben Myers, Mr W. A. lorns, Mr and Mrs H. W. Castle, Mr and Mrs J. S. F. Pollitzer, Mr Henry Wood, Mr W. J. Hunter, Mr E. H. Fitter, Mr S. H. Fitter, Mr L. A. Nicoll, Mr H. Nicoll, Mr B. Tripp. Mr and Mrs D. Cameron, and Miss Cameron.