Judge Looks Back On His Childhood

Chronicle (Levin), 1 March 1949, Page 7

Judge Looks Back On His Childhood

• Press Assodation)

(Pei

, WELLINGTON, Feb. 28. A touching tribute to his parents — "unswerving iove on the part of my mother ' '—was paid by Mr. Justice Ohristie on his retirement tbday from the Supreme Court Bench. In inaking what he termed his second swan song in his life. His Honour was replying to tributes from the Bar. "There were not rnany. silver spoons in the home in which -I was broiigJit up," he said, "but I had something which I feel some children of today will lack — eareful instruction in moral principles. I can understand 'The Cotter's Saturdav Night' although with us it was -Sunday night. I was brought up on the Catechism, .the New Testa- ' ment, 'the metrical version of the Psalms of 'David, and the GoldemRuJe, . with occasional applications of the leather belt. "With such a Presbyterian upbringing I feel ■ it a real triumph of moral restraint that I have never once used the word 'sin' when I meant 'crime.' I have never felt divorced even from the criminal in the dock. Always i thought that we are all bound by tlie common tie of humanity. ' ' His Honour also acknowledged his indebtedness to his wife for her encouragement and help.