WONDERFUL OLD AGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 835, 5 May 1910, Page 3

WONDERFUL OLD AGE.

From time to time cases occur that might be used in argument against a retiring age for Judges. The late Sir Henry Hawkins could do a long day’s work when over eighty, and show no falling off in his acumen and grip of a case. Ford Halsbuty, now in his 85th year, is one of the most wonderful old men in England. He was 80 when the resignation of Mr Balfour compelled him to vacate the office of Lord Chancellor, but, freed from the cares of that great position, he plunged at once into the enormous task of consolidating all the text-books on English law. To-day he is still active in mind and body. Not only does he take a vigorous part in House of Lords debates, but the other day he sat in the Court of Appeal to prevent arrears of work accumulating owing to the absence of two Lords Justice. The alertness and grasp of law displayed by this young gentleman of 84 made a deep impression on those in Court. The first appeal was a complicated railway case that had occupied the Court below for many hours —the kind that cau be argued for days. Lord Halsbury pounced on the weak points at once, and the case was over in less than an hour, his judgment taking one minute and a-half to deliver. Two more cases were disposed of before the midday adjournment. There seemed to be no more work for the Court to do that day, but Lord Halsbury noticed that counsel in a case to come on the following day were in Court. This case was promptly “ put on the machine,” and finished before the Court rose for the day. A writer in the Daily Mail describes his penetration of a case as most acute, and his grip of case-law as wonderful. He will give a book of law reports a casual look, and while his colleagues on the Bench and counsel are pouring over it, say authoritatively, “That case meant so and so.” Yet he was called to the Bar in 1850—ten years before the new SolicitorGeneral was born, and became So-licitor-General while Sir Rufus Isaacs was at school. There is considerable difference of opinion about Lord Halsbury as a statesman, but there cannot be any about him as a lawyer and an example of vigorous old age.