"A SILENT JUDGE."

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18372, 4 May 1925, Page 11

"A SILENT JUDGE."

~ HOPES OF MR JUSTICE ALPERS

• •'. • 'One of liis qualifications for his pre- ; I l '^office-was a knowledge of his own 5 ? iun&tione, said Mr Justice Alpcrs, m " fi f to a welcome extended by the Bar. Another was that he '■ ifrihao- a receptive intellect and a hsten- " "ftg m»nd. He had discovered in two Ilf'months' judicial experience—to the unIfidoing of the anticipations of'his closhe was capable of_ beIflliing a -silent Judge llivhether that would always endure mmM not know, but >s fronds had! |#&ir fears: One of them, him with a copy of Bacons ; f*fes: marking in it^ the ,°* IS Judges'' which the ■ ss^ojhbrrecommended him to learn t>7 The silent Judge wasthe most from the viewpoint of «»; MifkrHut he hoped the profession would S Sprays value the Judge question or by observation, *ilav©' a cue to the trend of his mind, f'iipp.nse'that shortened argument.The pK Judge, However,.. got through fe»iness expeditiously.; ;....• , Masonahle'knowieage bf-life.-; Resides had a career th^,had beenl critics would say bizarre—&sti career that had touched life at many jfe !: points, he : liad also acquired an original S-f knowledge of the inside of hookfi (re> f' ports Mfoe ' 'New Zealand Herald"). W : 0.0 'had[mastered many classics, m- &'' eluding such works as "Huckleberry Finn" and Snell'e 'TrineJples or : Equitsr,? but he had nob allowed either > of .ifcejje masterpieces to-disguise to ■ him'the limitations of life. . He remembered how Sir William ; Frazerj in "The Golden; Bough," con- • tras.£ed the academic typ* and the man ?; of affaire, pointing out that the man I ; of affairs saw life in ita reality, whereas |: the student saw it only 'by its, pale. I- reflection through books. |i 'I believe." proceeded ha Honour, mk\;' laterfit would be audacious for me tP »1 snggjest that I coolcrr-the acquiremente K$ aoopmplishmenta as jurists of the Ri:,gr6iifc meitwho have preceded me>'on ■p??-*fel Bench, I'do hope, vwrthva reaeonEpabto of mtroan life, to be Hfeahie-' to emulate their reputation,. far Bp -nndarstahding and their- capacity, for Hp'Mrness.- . • . lam sensible., of the that there have.been great men ■pon the Bench xa. New Zealand: The K§.Grtßßons, and Kichmonds, and, PrenHPlleirgasts of an earlier date, and the HlpWiuiams and Dennistdns, and sat-mßm-mimUR of a later generation,, have left HpbeWd them a great name, as men of BPthe Tery highest culture,' of the most scholarship;,; and the greatest re||gitfcainmeiifc. as jurists ana men <* ■lllf^anaire. we cannot hope to emulate IfStnem in all resjSects, or, indeed, in IlKmany respects, I may hope that I may K fpass on .Unsullied when I retire the ■fehonourablo and great name that they to the Bench in New Zealand. Hpftjtt hope shall be" the steadfast aim ■teSfumv judicial career."