OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 87, 7 January 1920, Page 8

OBITUARY

:MR. C.B. MORISON, K.C.

It is with regret that we. record the death at the age of 58 years of Mr Charles Bruce Morison, K.C. Mr. MoriBon. who died at his residence, Aurora Terrace, yesterday, after a long illness, was born in Elgin, Scotland, in 1801, .and came to New., Zealand when twelve- or . thirteen /vears of ago with his parents, who settled in Masterton (Wairarapa)'. Ho mav be said to have commenced life in the Public Service, for he originally entered the Post and Telegraph Department as- a cadet in Masterton, not long after- his Parents settled in that town. He was not there for long, however, before his career in the Service was cut short bv his. retirement from the staff of. the. Masterton Office in order to attend Nelson College.' There ( his studious nature fotind ample scope for expansion, and the years he passed there were regarded by him as precious ones. On leaving college he wa6 aftided to the late Mr. A. It. Bunny, barrister and solicitor, of' Masterton, where his talpnt for tho law soon became manifest. On being ; admitted to the bar, Mr. Morison practised at Woodville on his own ■account, but after a short term there came to Wellington, nnd entered into partnershin with Mr. A. If. Atkinson. ' Later, that union was dissolved, and Mr. Morison took-Mr. C A. Loughnnn as a partner, the new Arm taking over, the legal business of Sir W. Bassett Edwards, on • the latter's elevation to tho Supreme Court bench. When Mr. C. A. LoughJftn'left to practice in Palmerston North, he., was succeeded in the firm by his brother, Mr. E. 0. B. Loughnan, which partnership came to an end in 1901 For two years Mr. Morison practised alone, and in 1906\h0 took the late Mr. G. M'Lean into partnership, and, on the-latter's death in 1908, admitted Mr. W: S. Smith to partnership Tho late Mr. Morison, an able pleader ftt the- bar. and nn admitted authority on"Comnanv - law in New Zealand, was among the' second group of barristers who were appointed King'B Counsel, an honour certainly well merited. Mr. Morison had always takon a very keen interest in politics. In 1899 he" contested tho Otaki seat against the late Mr. Henry A. Field (who wag extremely popular in the district), and was only defeated by 303 votes in a total poll of 3371 vote. Mr. 11. A. Field died in December of that year, when Mr. Morison again contested the seat, on this occasion against Mr. W. 11. Field, when ho was again dofeated by a narrow margin. Since then he has been asked on several occasions to contest various seats in .Parliament, but .lias always declined. Ho, however, took a very ardent interest in the Reform Party, when it camo into being some thirteen or fourteen years ago, and rendered s-'gnal service to that party-, 'which later gained the Treasury benches and held them up till the time the National Government came into boing in 1914, and since the reversion to the old party lines. Mr. Moris.on has contributed works of solid value to tho literature of law in this country. His "Law of Limited Liability Companies in New Zealand," published in 1901, is a standard work of undisputed importance. He also published a volume on tho 'T.icensing Laws of New Zealand," and as Into as 1916, published his. "Principles, of tho I?e----cission of Contracts!," which was laudatorily reviewed by such able practitioners as Sir .Tohn Findlnv, K.C, Mr. C. PSkerrett, K.C, and Mr. A. R. Atkinson, who agreed that it was a- work no law library in New Zealand should be without.

Mr. Morison, whoso high personal character won him the respect of all,- leaves a widow (who w<is a daughter of the late Colonel HaultaineV two pons (Captain B. H. Morion, M.C.. of the Main Body, and Captain Gordon Morison. M.C.. also of the firm of Morison and Smith) and two daughters, Misses Majory and Claire Morison. Miss Jane Morison, of Masterton. is a sister. Tho deceased waq a keen fisherman, enjoyed an occasional shooting expedition, trot was happiest whe.<. amongst his books. Tho interment will ho private.