“SECOND SWAN SONG”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27018, 1 March 1949, Page 6

“SECOND SWAN SONG”

MR JUSTICE CHRISTIE RETIRES TRIBUTE TO PARENTS PA WELLINGTON, Feb. 28. A tribute to his parents—“unswerving love on the part of my mother ” was paid by Mr Justice Christie on his retirement to-day from the Supreme Court bench, in making what he termed his second swan song in his life. His Honor was replying to tributes from the Bar. “ There were not many silver spoons in the home in which I was brought up,” he said, “ but I had something which I feel some children of to-day will lack—careful instruction in moral

principles, I can understand ‘ The Cottar’s Saturday Night,’ although with us, it was Sunday night. “ I was brought up on the catechism, the New Testament, the metrical versic i of the Psalms of David and the golden rule with occasional applications of a leather belt. With such a Presbyterian upbringing I feel it a real triumph of moral restraint that I have never once used the word ‘sin’ when I meant ‘ crime.’ “ I have never felt divorced even from the criminal in the dock. Always I thought that we are all bound by the common tie of humanity.” His Honor also acknowledged his indebtedness to his wife for her encouragement and help. t