JUNIOR COUNSEL IN PRIVY COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 23288, 26 August 1937, Page 4

JUNIOR COUNSEL IN PRIVY COUNCIL

DISTINCTION OF DUNEDIN RHODES SCHOLAR To be briefed as junior counsel in the Privy Council, the highest Court m the British Empire, in his first appearance as a barrister has been the good fortune of Mr Lester F. Moller, B.C.L. (Oxon), LL.B. (N.Z.), a Dunedin Rhodes Scholar, who is still studying at Oxford University. Probably Mr Moller’s distinction of appearing before the Privy Council with actually the first brief of his legal career is not shared by any other lawyer, states The Otago Daily Times. The case in which he appeared was the appeal of the Mount Albert Borough Council, Auckland, from the decision of the New Zealand Court of Appeal in favour of the Australasian Temperance and General Life Association. The case was originated to determine the effect of certain Victorian legislation passed during the depression on advances made by Victorian tjompanies to local bodies in New Zealand. It affects at least 23 local bodies, and considerably more than £1,090,000 of debt. The Court of Appeal decided that the proper law of contract applicable was the law of New Zealand. It was from this decision that the borough council appealed to the Privy Council. When Mr John O’Shea, of Wellington, reached London he briefed Mr Moller, who recently obtained the degree of Bachelor of Common Law with distinction, as his junior. Mr Moller has had a distinguished scholastic career. He obtained his Bachelor degree in two years, as against the three years usually occupied, and is continuing under his third year of a Rhodes scholarship to study for tne higher degree of Doctor of Laws.