THE WOOLSACK.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1522, 19 August 1912, Page 4

THE WOOLSACK.

LORDS LOREBURN AND HALDANE. "Tho resignation of tho Lord Chancellorship by Lord Loreburn, and the appointment of Lord Jlaldane as his successor uro officially announced," says '"i'ho Times." "It is with real regret that the general public of nil parties, the members of the House of Lords, and the legal profession will learn that Lord Loreburn (ills no longer tho great oltice ho has held for six years and a half. Jlis elevation to the Woolsack was somewhat of a surprise, for when the Liberal Government was formed there was :i widespread impression, that the statesman who now succeds him had unusual qualifications tor that dignity. A Successful Chancellor, "Sir Robert Reid was as popular at tho Bar as ho was in tho House of Commons, and as he is in the House of Lords, and he was tho surviving law officer of tho last Liberal Government, but ho was never considered to bo a groat lawyer in the more restricted sense of the term. His appointment, however, has been abundantly justified by his success. He has discharged his duties as Speaker of the House of Lords with a dignity, an urbanity, and an uuiailing personal charm wiiich have won for him an exceptional measure of personal popularity, even amongst that largo majority of tuo peers who are most strenuously opposed to his political views. "In his judicial capacity he has surpassed the hopes of his iriends and tho expectations ot tho Bar. It would be extravagant to say that he has been one of tlioso Chancellors who have raised the reputation of tho highest Courts of the i Umpire, but his quick intelligence, his puwer of seizing the salient points of a I case, und his gut of lucid and simple expression mado him in. many respects an admirable Judgo of Appeal. His courtesy and consideration for tno Bar facilitated tne conduct of business, and his adherence to the old practice of listening to counsel, instead of arguing with them, specially commended itself to those who practised beloro him. Xu the discharge of his difficult and delicate administrative duties, his lovo of fair play and his determination not to suffer the magisterial .bench to bo prostituted for political purposes deserve tho hignest praise. "Liko his predecessor, Lord Herschell, he was repeatedly made the subject of violent nttacKs by Literal and Radical wirepullers' lor his steadlast refusal to make that Bench the roward of party services, and liko Lord Herschell ho manfully resisted the pressure brought to bear upon him. By the introduction of the system of Advisory Committees, ho removed all plausible grounds for complaint in regard to magisterial appointments, and ho afforded those responsible for them invaluable aid ill judging tho personal fitness of candidates. In tho working of tho Courts of Criminal Appeal he has had the gratification of seojng the success of a reform which he warmly advocated. Ho leaves tho Woolsack with tho regret of all who havo been brought into relations with him—a regret which is naturally intensified by the fact that his'resignation is caused by considerations of health. A Philosophic Chancellor. "Lord Haldane becomes Lord Chancellor with a high and well-earned reputation alike for legal learning and for that broad and philosophic view of legal principle which is not always found with erudition. He has had a career of distinction at the Bar, and a career which justifies high expectations as to his future as a Judge. Ho has, indeed, already had some experience, in both tho Courts in which he is now to take his place as Chancellor. Since his elevation to the peerage he has sat on tho Judicial Commutes of the Privy Council, whero he succeeded Lord James of Hereford, and as a Lord of Appeal. He has the chief gifts which go to moke a good president ot a deliberative Assembly—tact, adroitness, firmness, and imperturbable good humour. As a stutcsman, Lord Haldane has done good work for this country in circumstances of peculiar difficulty. ' Ho had never bcon in an Administration until he was mado Secretary of State for War, and/it is understood that he had not made any special study of .military subjects when he went to the War Office Hie changes which he has effected in our military system, sc\. far at least- as'the .auxiliary forces go',' have been so extensive that he may bo said to have relaid its foundations. Ihe most important of all is the creation of tho Territorial force which may hereafter develop into an invaluable element of our national defences. Uur first expeditionary force has arisen during his tenure of office to a high pitch