MR. J. S. BARTON, S.M.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 276, 10 August 1918, Page 8

MR. J. S. BARTON, S.M.

PEESENTATTON BY ACCOUNTANTS' SOCIETY.

Mr. John'S. Barton, who has been appointed a Stipendiary Magistrate, was made a presentation last evening by tho Wellington branch' of tho New Zealand Institute of Accountants, of which body Mr. Barton was president for the years 1915-IG-17. The presentation, which look place in the Accountants' Chambers,' was mads by>Mr. H. A. Gold, the senior councillor iiv Wellington in tho absence of (he president (Mr. H. C. Tewsley). In addition to a fairly representative gathering of accountants there were present several members of the legal profession of Wellington. Mr. Gold said it was hardly necessary for him to say to Mr. Bnrton that they regretted lhat ho wns leaving Wellington, and that they all congratulated him on the appointment he had received. Mr. Barton had been elected a member of the iirst council of the institute in MOD, and had occupied that position continuously ever since. lie had been president for tho years 1915-1G and 101G--17; he had served on every committee, and his valuo to the educational side of accountancy needed no recapitulation from him'. Mr. Barton hiul.not only been an assiduous and valuable lecturer to tho students, but to the Wellington branch of the institute he ever gave his best, and his best had been good. (Applause.). Mr. Gold fclien inovel a resolution of congratulation and entire confidence in Mr. Barton's capacity to fulfil the duties of his new office.

• In. seconding tho resolution, Mr. 0. Bowden said he thought they all recognised that had it not been for Mr. Barton's untiring efforts eoine ten years ago, there might hayo been no institute today. Ho had sat under Mr. Barton as a student, and in association with him as a fellow-councillor, and in mentioning tho very great value of tho work, Mr. Barton had done, he could only reflect the sense of the great loss they were sustaining hy his removal profession and ephere of duty.

Mr. T. Young (solicitor lo the institute) said tjiat ho had been associated with Mr. Barton for a long time, at first as an accountant and then as a solicitor. Indeed, he had given him some ndvice relative to.joining the legal profession, so lie could claim that his advice had borne good fruit. (Applause.) Ho knew, how highly Mr. Barton was regarded by the members of the Accountants' Society, to say that ho had earned the respect of .every solicitor in Wellington. Tho profession generally was delighted that Mr. Barton saw fit to accept the appointment to the Bench. Ho was sure that Mr. , Barton would becomo an ornament lo the Bench, and ho hoped that, with his experience and ability, he would in timo be appoiuted to a still higher sphere. Ho was sure ho woujcl grace imy higher position he (Mr. Barton) thought tit to accept. (Applause.) Mr. H. 1?. von Huast, in olferiug his congratulations, said that one test of a Magistrate was how the members of tho profession would feel practising before him. He was quite sure that they, one and all, would have every confidence in Mr. Barton, were the uecisio n for or nguinst them. Though ho was going away ho hoped it would not bo long before h<) returned to the metropolitan Bench. J n the meantime he had to congratulate Oisljonio on thoir acquisition.

Messrs. A. J..l'ethprick, E. W. Hunt, ]J. Ivory, and J. C. Port also added (heir congratulations, after which lite motion, was put, iind carried with acclamation. The chairman then handed Mr. Barton a handsome gold English lever watch (suitably inscribed) as a tangible svidence or tho esteem of tho Accountants of Wellington, and in doing no expressed tho hope that the wheels of tiino would deal kindly with the recipient. Mr. Barton expressed his thanks for the handsome gift, and thanked them n'.l for the kindly spirit that had prompted them to meet him us they had. Ho could not help feeling; proud of tho part ho took in tho formation' of tho institute, when he saw the present standing of the accountants and of lhi> institute. Ho would like to say that force of circumstances in liis youth had prevented him entering the legal profession by tho usual avenue. Ho mitcrjd it later in lifo than usual, and without being articled or serving an apprenticeship. With such an entry one might have been made to feel it. He personally had found the members of tho legal profession in Wellington gentlemen in tho bos t sense of the word, and had experienced, nothing but kindnes3 and courtesy at their hands. Ho appreciated to ilio full the honour that had been done him in his appointment to tho position he was about to assume,. but hoped that tho time would arrive when he would como back to within a reasonable, distance of Wellington. Once again he expressed his gratiliention at the kindly ryiinions of himself which had been so well expressed by his Wellington ♦'rieiida. (Applause.)