NOTED LEADER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 63, 14 March 1936, Page 10

NOTED LEADER

SIR FRANCIS BELL DEAD DISTINGUISHED CAREER LAW AND POLITICS WELLINGTON, March J , Hr Francis Henry liMJon Ke I. I*-’ G.C.M.G., K.C., M. I,died al his j home ar Lonry Bay at 7 a.in. to-day. I in hi* eighty-fifth year. With the death of Sir Francis Be 1 there passes away one of me must; notable figures in New Zea.and history , of the last half-century. A man of • rommanding presence and great intellect, Sir Liancis Beil could not have j tailed to make bis influence tell in , any walk ot lite \ 'nn|».e i\w«»r<i o’ hit career and achievements shows, how wide were his interests. He was ■ tn politics, although not a leader of ; the prop e, and a leader n spurt. j Sir Francis was the eldest son a man greatly di< ingui.-hed in New Zea j land polii: ». H.s father. S.r 1 rautis j Dillon Bell, was a member of both; Houses of Parliament in succession. He held various M.nisieriai »»tii<es and! was Speaker of the Legislative Cvul-| e.i, bin i. was as Agent-General for New Zea.and in London from l’'*o to ■ 1890 that he was chiefly known. Sir Francis Bell wa* born in Neim»n in Iss». his father being then the representat.ve of the New Zealand. Company in the South Island. He was* educated at the Auckland Grammar! Schoo! an 1 the Otago Boys’ High School, of which he was dux from) IStil to 1868. He was a member of. the school cricket e even and captain cf the school cadets. From the high arhool h.» went to >t. John’* College.. Cambridge, where he t«‘ok h»s B.A. de-1 gree in 187?. He »as ailed to the I Bar at the .Middle Temp e in I'7l. ■ < »n returning to New Zeaiand in the following }ear, he commenced the on* tire of his proiession. sir Francis was Crown Sol. i;«r from 1878 to 1911 He qu : epu •stion a; a barrister, and was taking! ’*•? cases at an age when many barris-| tert arp l»u ding up a practice. He | ftppea re I before the Privy i.jucil on' many New Zea and appeals. among the more notable of whi-ii were the I Midland Railway rase and the Assets Board leases. Some lawyers gain a reputation with the ’ay public by their* •rsor .ati««ri v»i:’ii i» g :r.a!s, though their j legal brethren may hold them in light! esteem. Sir Franc, Bell wa< not one I or th“se. He wa* ever more highly I ester.i.ed within the profession than I by th* public. From tie elevation of I S i Robert stout to the Chief Jus - ticeship until he gave up a.-tive prae-' tire, Sir Francis Beh was the a<-know- ' T edged leader of the Bar in New Zea-1 land, anil was its spokesman whenever' o casion required. This leadership was, the leadership of fact, but there was; official leadership a.so. Sir Francis’ Bell was 20 years m office in the New | Zealand Law JSwietr. for 17 vears a> president (1901-1% . H.- was’ ap pointed King’s Counsel in 19"7. He re tired from the presidency o’’ the Law Sorely when he a-<-epte«i office a” A* torney-General in succession to Mr. Justice Herdman. He was president n e the Wellington law Socicjv from ISSS to |S9O. Had he so desired. Sir Francis might have held a sea: on the Supreme Court Bench, fo r he was offered >u«-h an opfH»intnient in Sir Harry Atkinson's : me. but found it inconvenient to give up his practice I in the Law Courts. I’rwn his rar. jest v»- a rs Sj r Francis Bell took an active interest in num’upal affair*. He Mayor of Wei- I iington in IS.q. 1 an .j H’s connection w 3 ••eneral r»««. t ics ■ comn.enred in |s;m» « ,ie-« hr contesfe i> the Weillngto . ’ successful then and also in !*.•?, but! was ele-ted i:- 189.:. Am..ng his fe low new me über, w - a? T ;, P | a :e Wil-| i.am r e-g-,;>«»:j Massey, and thev at’ one? became -•><,. friend*. H<> re. re»i I in IV*', an.l .1 d not «fl.-r» a r.i r appp ar : •rti.rly >n IHtlitir, t l the formation o the Ma-.ey li.verntnent in 19i2 1 when he « a , ,] le |.e;is-I laiive i 'totncil and be ante j;< Leader ' His po-.iion r.-qu red that he should I he familiar with tne work <». ail De ! partments ..r State, an.l .h..n ,f l.e a ;.„. ! ?o explain a t he iegiw.ative pro-' posals of the Government. h was h 1 diftiru • task. b ul w .„. IW be har<| i ’ ’ - ..... .. . Francis Bell e o „|.| , p a .. e ’ tn the |-..ir;..n ..• th.. Javnian tins.- 1 •lUaintfii «•: t terms’ an.l . ~ j eltleidate the ,„„. t p>v j *o that its efl’. ; was pain to a l. At ' the same tune he was mo«*t careful t<» ■ ceP that «li>e regard was given to legal forms, and the be>t work of the leg - I tatire l onnril a . q revi-;n 4 Chand.'. I ' ’ • • . •. . ’ - r r L- r •' I it' 1.ea.1.r. H.. -elf r.';,'. ’ a ia .

draftsman of great ability. Two mea sures which will lung be quoted as monuments of h.s skill ate tue original Mortgages Extension Art (afterwards copied throughout the Empire) and the Licensing Amendment Act, 1918 (pro ! viding l"r the special and subsequent * pciiouical livens.ng polls). Apart from i uis facility in explaining legislative! piuposals, Bir Francis Beil, by his cour ' te.-y and h.s methods iu meeting oppo ' siiion. greatly assisted the passage of Bills through the Council. On the death of Mr. Massey in April. Sir Francis was invited to form a Ministry, and he held the office of Prime Minister until Mr. Coates was appointed Leader of the Reform Par?y. He was the first New Zealand-born Pihuv Minister. In the Coates Ministry he held office coiitinuouslv until the defeat of the Government in 1925. As an administrator h s greatest work wa.» as Attorney-General and as L onimis.- oner of SSiate Forests. The For e>:rv Department came into being untier his care and its firm establishment or. weii-planned lines is a service for whch future generations will be thankful. He was the first Minister of External Affairs and at various times he was also the Minister of Internal Affairs. Marine. Immigration. Educa lion. Health, am! .Acting Minister of I Finance and Lands. His term as Leader nt the Legislative Council, from July, P.G2, to ’December. |92S, is the Jong j est on recurd ami on his resignation ' warm and eloquent tributes were paid I to Lis con.-picuous service to the Do min-.on. S r Francis re’.ained bis seat in the Legislative Council up to the time of his death, and on legal and Native Bills his remarks always cartied weight. One uf the last honours pad tr h.m was fiis appointment to the Wa.taugi Trust Board. In 1915 >ir Francis Beil was created K.i .M.G , anvl in 191’3 he was made a Grand Commaader of the same order. In 192.’. also ta was made a I’rivv 4 vunciii'vr. In 1922 he represen«etl New Zealand at the Genoa ami Hague A lied Conferences ami represented the Dominion on fbe Council of the I. tague of Nations in 1922 and 1925, in which year he was also a delegate io the Imperial Conference. When he we. t to England ami Genoa he was ; presented by the Prince of Wales on I behalf of the legislative Council with* a silver mounted casket, and in the I same year the members of the House ’•re>e:i:ed him with a silver punch I bew|. Sir 1 ramus Bell was married in 1878 to <-Moline, daughter of the Hon. AV. hebinson. ALL.i .. of <'hristchurch. j lhe eldest son. Frank, died while a ' prudent at Wellington College, and an-1 other son. Captain W. H. D. Bel; .for ' merly M.P. tor Wellington Suburbs,, served m Samoa, and was killed in ! action in France i n August. 1917. A' tai rd son. .Mr. Ernest D. Beil. who! served with the N.Z.E.F., throughout tne war. is a iso dead. I he surviving members of the farnih i are: Mrs. H. F. Johnston. Wei ! i ngLon; Airs. H. Rolieston, who was] tn charge or Taumaru Hospital (Sir! Franei., Bell s hoa.e at Jxjwrv Bnv. 1 ll “‘, B . ar: Mrp G - i’ ; -ni S ton,: >.8.'.. and M: ss E ni ,i 8.-11, both of, »b IM „ served Walton H«p ila | dnr ■nc the war; and Mr. Cheviot W. |,> Beil, who s.-rve.l B i t h the Koval Air I a£ 7 r ’ I ’ a "- V PRIME MINSTER’S TRIBUTE ', A MAN OF HIS WORD I Per I - ms J M ELLINGTON. .March 13. I The Prime Minister tHon. M. J. a»age jn (fop course of a tribute to S-r Iranr.s B#»!l. sa jd r h at had al reputation which extended beyond I New Zeaiand. “He was a great ron--'titntiona! lawyer ami his opinions were. J believe, greatly respected bv I the Imperia! authorities. As a j.olitieal I <»pponent ot the party which is now he Government. Sir Francis was a ’. I ways a keen and strong adversary, but I be-ausp he was a man whn had prin- ! ciplps and stood by them, because he j a ways stuck to his word, he was an . opponent whom <>np couhl honour and • respect.* Hp must a>o be given credit fo r hi« support n n many matters which | the La:>our Pane fought for. notably with regard to the Housing and Rent ! Restriction Acts. a n<| j ri recent rears | the Labour movement found in his ripe wisdom and amazing wealth of ex-I porierfre a generous fund of counsel. His valuable a*l v.cp was alwavs giv’pti I in a frieridy and informal way. His death w-.il be widely mourned. ” I BROKEN H:LL MINE REOPENING ON MONDAY IDLE NEARLY SIX YEARS | SYIDNEY. March 1.1. Ti>P Broken Hill Proprietary Com pany has announced that the Proprietary ni tic. which has been closed since June. 1’.1’.,». will be reopened next Mon 1 About • will be employed.