"LOST LEADER"

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 141, 11 December 1929, Page 14

"LOST LEADER"

LATE SIR J. FINDLAY

TRIBUTES FROM BENCH AND BAR

A BRILLIANT CAREER

Warm tributes to the late Sir John Pindlay, K.C., wore paid on behalf of the Supreme Court Bench and the legal profession at a largely-attended gathering in the Supreme Court to-day. On tho Bench was the Chief Justice (the lion. M. Myers) and Mr. Justice Blair, and J,hoso present included Sir Francis Bell, G.C.M.G., K.C., Mr. A. Fair, K.C. (Solicitor-General), Mr. A. Gray, X.C, and Mr. E. Page, S.M.

Tho members of the profession were assembled, said Sir Francis Bell, to claim their ancient privilege of expressing their unified sorrow at the loss of one of their leaders, and one dis-' tinguished always in their ranks. Sir John Pindlay was tho friend of them all, and in all sincerity they mourned with those who more sadly mourned his loss. He brought into the practice ofhis profession that fund of knowledge and learning which he had gained in his very distinguished career at the Otago "University, where he and many others acquired the habit and manner of lucid speech and power of address in the English language. When after practice in the South, he came to Wellington, he stepped at once into tho foremost ranks of the profession, and even joined as he«was in partnership with one who held a great place among them —Sir Robert Stout—he rapidly became a leader. COURAGE AND WISDOM. Sir Francis Bell referred to Sir John Findlay's appointment as AttorneyGeneral and Leader of the Legislative Council when Sir Joseph Ward first became Prime Minister, and" eulogised his work in that connection as showing courage of departure from the past and wisdom for the future. Ho created the office of King's Counsel in New Zealand, and was himself one of the first appointed to that position by Or-der-in-Council. Again, it was well known, that he sought to meet a complaint that during the sittings of the Court of Appeal, the legal process in tho north and the south was hampered by creating a separate Court of Appeal. His project failed, but it was wisely and carefully thought out, and developed until it was plain that it must fail. The alternative adopted of dividing the Court'was not one which he advised, and whatever might be the result of the division, those who survived from the past had not disagreed with the view that the united Court was the better solution. Sir John Findlay's part in the administration of the law was marked by real distinction, recognised more perhaps by the profession than by the public, but recognised also by the public and the Government. His political career, brief as it was, was a brilliant one, culminating in his presence with Sir Joseph Ward at the' Imperial Conference, where his part was still remembered with admiration by many of tho distinguished men who served at tho Conference. "When, on the resignation of the Ward Government, his active political career ceased, his re.turn to active practice in the profession was welcomed by them all. They knew how, ready of speech he was, how apt tho phrases were that came from his lips, illuminated from his learning, and wide- study of literature- and science, and how free he was from the use of the wit and sarcasm which was always available to him for offence. TRUE TO TRADITION. "He lived with us, admired by us all," continued Sir Francis, "with a real friendship created by his own attractive personality. His power as au advocate and wide knowledge of legal principle made him recognised by those outside- our ranks as a leader whoso services should be sought. Amongst us, he was known as a dangerous adversary, but at the same time he was true always to the traditions of courtesy and quiet self-possession which marked tho real leader in the profession. Those who had the privilege of close association with him in the life outside the profession have the most affectionate remembrance of that association."

In conclusion, Sir Francis expressed ;he real sense of sorrow and loss which

the profession felt at Sir John Kndlay's death, and their deep sympathy with his widow and family.

"A GREAT ADVOCATE."

The Chief Justice stated that he and his brother Judges heard on Monday with sincere regret the announcement of the sad event that had brought them together. Ho would like for himself, and he knew that he could speak also for all his colleagues, to add a, few words to the eloquent tribute that Sir Francis Bell, on behalf of the profession of the law in New Zealand, had paid to-the memory of Sir John .Findlay.

Sir John practised as a member of the profession in this city for about 35 years. During the whole of that period he held a high position at the Bar, of whicli for many years he was one of its active leaders, as well as for six years th« official head, as Attorney-Gen-eral. It was on his initiative as At-torney-General as Sir Francis Bell had said, that the rank of King's Counsel was established in New Zealand.

Sir John was a sound lawyer and a great advocate; always a fair, generous and honourable opponent,' always courteous, always reasonable, and always willing and anxious, as a leader should be, to help the younger men of the profession. But he was more than merely a sound lawyer and a great advocate. He was a brilliant scholar, an eclectic reader, a man of great culture, and a charming conversationalist and companion. With all those gifts, and with his indefatigable industry, it was natural that ho should have possessed, as he I did, a grace of diction in both the I spoken and the written word which they all admired, and, he ventured to | say, most of them envied.

'' We members of the Bench, like you of the Bar, mourn his loss," concluded his Honour. "We, like you, offer our sincere and respectful sympathy to Lady Findlay and her sons, in the hope that this tribute of respect to the late Sir John's memory from those who outside the members of his family knew him best and admired him most will, in some measure, however slight, alleviate their grief in the great loss that they have sustained by his death." The Court then adjourned.