COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENCE

New Zealand Tablet, 30 March 1922, Page 37

COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENCE

TO THH EDITOR. Sir—The Tablet will, I know, with its usual Irish fair play, allow me to refer to certain good things that can be said in favor of Sir Robert Stout, notwithstanding his appalling bigotry on the education question. Inter alia, when it was almost as unfashionable and treasonous to support the cause of Irish nationalism, as it was such a short time ago for you to advocate Sinn Fein, Mr. Robert Stout (as he was then) took the platform for the Irish delegates of the day and gave them his loyal and unswerving support, nobly daring the thirteen devils of Dunedin Orangeism. .Men like John Dillon have long since expressed their admiration of Stout’s stalwart assistance. And further, if you asked many a young Catholic lawyer, court official, or policeman who has of all the members of the bench been most courteous and encouraging to him, he would answer—Sir Robert Stout. He has never been known, even in his busiest moments, to refuse to attend an Irish national concert (when shoneens .were giving them the go-by), and to be the most enthusiastic and appreciative member of the audience. Let us hope and pray that the Chief Justice’s prejudices may not be invincible.—l am, etc., Junior Bar.