AN HONOURED AND RESPECTED JUDGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3112, 5 November 1913, Page 36

AN HONOURED AND RESPECTED JUDGE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ME JUSTICE WILLIAMS. Members of the local Bar attended at the Supreme Court in very large numbers on Monday morning to offer their congratulations to his Honor Mr Justice Williams on. his elevation to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. So large was the attendance that it probably included not only advocates past and present,-but also many still in the embryonic stage. I Here were in addition many officials connected with the Department of Justice, among them being Messrs H. Y. Widdowson and J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.’s. The tribute paid to his Honor was therefore a full and complete one so far as the Bench and Bar were concerned.

Mr J. H. Hosking, K.C.y speaking, on behalf of the Law Society, said At various stages in your Honor’s judicial career of 38 years and upwards the members of the legal profession both here and elsewhere have been privileged in the opportunity of acknowledging _ your Honor’s services in the public administration of justice, the value which has been placed upon them, and the respect which the profession entertains towards yourself, personally. In so doing they have not only spoken their own convictions, but are well assured that tney have given expression to those of all other sections of the community. We now welcome another occasion of publicly renewing, jthose sentiments afforded by the bestowal upon you of a further honour by hie Majesty the King on your appointment as a member of his Privy Council--one of the highest of Imperial distinction. As the Otago Law Society, we- have already tendered you our congratulations through our official medium, hut it has been out desire to come in person, as we now -do, to proffer our continued regard and to express our sincere pleasure that to you this additional honour lias been accorded. The position to which you have been raised is a tribute to the Bench of this dominion. It is a position which every member of th.e profession deservedly conferred upon a faithful servant of the Crown, and, if we may be permitted to say so, upon one wno will fulfil the duties "attaching to it with that wisdom and sense of justice which, over so long a period, have characterised \oui Honor’s administration of judicial affairs in this portion of the Empire, 'lhat you may be spared, Sir, for many years to come with health and strength to discharge those duties is the heartfelt wish of every member of the Bar. I have to add that the Stipendiary Magistrates, the Inspector of Police, the Chief Gaoler, and the various officers connected with the. administration of justice locally join with us in this gathering, and these expressions of ours are therefore to be consideied as indicative of their feeling? also. His Honor, in replying, said :—Mr Hoskins', members of the profession, and those other gentlemen connected with the administration of justice to whom jou have alluded, 1 beg to tender you my heartfelt thanks. I am deeply moved at seeing so large and representative an assemblage here, and I feel it the more because I am satisfied, that you did not come here to pay an empty compliment to mvself, but because you are animated by motives of sincere friendship and goodwill to mvself. It is indeed a high honour that has "been conferred upon me- It is a high honour to be a member of the Privy Council, and it is a still higher honour to be a member of the Judicial Committee of that body. That tribunal is the final Court of Appeal for more than 350,000,000 of the inhabitants of the world. No other such tribunal has ever existed. 'My part in that tribunal will be a small one; but small as it is, if I have to take part in the deliberations it will be mv earnest endeavour to do my duty and "be a credit to the dominion which I shall have to represent. As to the flattering terms in which Mr Hosking has spoken of me, I can only say that i ■ really think he has' said too much. Ail that I am conscious of is that I have endeavoured to do my work honestly from day to day, and do what I was taught at school to do-—to try to play the game. Mr. Hosking has spoken of the relations which exist between myself- and the profession. I can only say I have a great deal to thank the profession for. When I came here I was veir raw and uninstructed. The .professiCß overlooked my: deficiencies, and there have been established between the profession and myself relations of the most c trdial nature. Now, nothing is more important than that there should be cordial relations between the Bench and the Bar. Both are concerned in the proper administration of _ justice. Justice cannot be properly administered unless those relations exist. There must

be- tact and forbearance on both sides. Everybody has his weaknesses and defects, and the only way often is mutual toleration. I sincerely trust that the relations which have so happily existed between myself and the members of the Bar will continue to remain with my successor, whoever, lie may be. Gentlemen, I am glad to say that I am not saying farewell now. I hope to continue at any rate until the end of .the present year, so that this is not the time for the final parting. Gentlemen, I thank you again from the bottom of riiy heart for your great, kindness.