THE CANADIAN BAR ASSOCIATION B. H. COLEMAN This sketch does notpretend to be a history of The Canadian Bar Association. Still less is it an attempt to discuss the increas- ing influence of the Association as a force in our national life or an endeavour to assess the part played in that development by some of the great Canadians who, during the thirty years, have given inspiration and leadership. I am confining this record to facts relating to the formation of the Association and its advance- ment. I realize that it is now difficult to obtain a complete set of our Year Books, which give detailed reports of the Annual Meetings and, the work of the committees and affiliated bodies. These Year Books contain a wealth of material which must be of interest to every Canadian lawyer. Necessarily, this brief sketch must therefore be a series of notes concerning the various Annual Meetings, rather than a comprehensive and detailed study of the work of the Association in advancing its high purposes and in establishing its position in Canadian life.

In the autumn of 1913 the American Bar Association held its Annual Meeting in , under the presidency of Mr. F: B. Kellogg. It was at this meeting that Viscount Haldane, the first Lord Chancellor of Great Britain to visit North America while in office, delivered a memorable address, to which he gave the title "The Higher Nationality". The vision of . a national association of lawyers caught the imagination of a number of prominent Canadians who were in attendance. Later in the year, the Minister of Justice, Mr. Doherty, visited Winnipeg and at a dinner. tendered him by the Manitoba Bar Association suggested that steps should be taken to organize in an association similar to the American Bar- Association. It is interesting to note that Mr. Doherty was accompanied on this visit by his private secretary,, Mr. John T. Hackett, now President of The Canadian Bar Association.', ' Mr. Doherty's suggestion made a strong appeal to the late Sir James Aikins, then President of the Manitoba Bar Association, and he at once communicated with prominent members of the Bar in the different Provinces. In February 1914 a preliminary meeting was held at Ottawa to discuss the possibility of establish- ing a national voluntary association of lawyers. . At this meeting it was decided to proceed with the organization of such an associa- tion. A provisional committee consisting of Mr. Aikins (as he

4 The Canadian Bar Review [Vol. XXVI

then was), Chairman, Mr. E. Fabre Surveyer, of Montreal, Secretary, and Mr. John F. Orde, of Ottawa, Treasurer, was set up. Letters signed by them were sent to the officers of the governing bodies of the legal profession in the Provinces and to the officers of the voluntary local bar associations, inviting them to attend or be represented at an organization meeting at Ottawa on March 31st, 1914. At this meeting representatives of the Bar from all the Provinces of Canada were present and The Canadian Bar Association was established, with Mr. Aikins as President. The declared objects of the Association were to advance the science of jurisprudence; promote the administration of justice and uniformity of legislation throughout Canada so far as is consistent with the preservation of the basic systems of law in the respective provinces ; uphold the honour of the profession of the law, and foster harmonious relations and co-operation among the incorporated law societies, barristers' societies and general corporations of the Bars of the several provinces and cordial intercourse among the members of the Canadian Bar; and to encourage a high standard of legal education, training and ethics. These purposes are very similar to the purposes of the American Bar Association, but there is one fundamental distinction which must be kept in mind. In each of the Provinces of Canada are bodies incorporated by the Provincial Legislatures, charged with important responsibilities in relation to admission, education, training and discipline. Necessarily, therefore, the work of The Canadian Bar Association in this field has to be co-ordinated with the work of these provincial bodies. There has never been a comparable situation throughout the forty-eight States of the United States. The American Bar Association, therefore, in its long history has takers action in specific matters which, under the Canadian system, have been dealt with by the incorporated provincial societies. On the other hand, the fact that we have in Canada two great systems of law has given us the advantage of comparing the operations of the two systems and of realizing the great contribution which each makes to the science of jurisprudence. In August of 1914 the first Great War broke out and it was questionable whether the newly organized association would be able to survive. Sir James Aikins and others associated with him were unremitting in their efforts, visiting the members of the

1948] The Canadian Bar Association

Bar in different parts of the country and stimulating interest in the movement. The first Annual Meeting was held in Montreal in March, 1915, and the, second at in June 1916. It had been decided that the third Annual Meeting would be held in Winnipeg in 1917, but before the appointed time arrived it -was realized that because of war conditions ,it would not be practicable to hold the meeting. This was one of the most critical periods in the early history of the Association and I have often heard Sir James Aikins say that it was due to the encouragement he received from the Bar of Montreal that he ventured to issue the call for the third meeting, which was held in Montreal early in September 1918. After the Armistice of November 11th, 1918, and the return to Canada of many of the younger members of the Bar who had been serving in the Canadian forces overseas, .the Association took a new lease of life. The fourth Annual Meeting was held in Winnipeg in 1919. This was, the first occasion when we had the pleasure of welcoming .a _representative from the United Kingdom, in the person of the venerable and distinguished Viscount Finlay, who had only recently relinquished office as Lord Chancellor. It is interesting to recall that Lord Finlay was accompanied by the present Lord Oaksey (then Mr. Geoffrey Lawrence) whose later career as a Judge of the High Court, as the United Kingdom Presiding Judge at the Nuremberg trials and presently as a member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is familiar to all Canadian lawyers. The Annual Meetings both in 1920 and in 1921 were held at Ottawa and were very largely attended. In 1922, for the first time, it was decided to take the risk of holding a meeting on the Pacific Coast. The officers of the Association were both surprised and gratified at the large number of lawyers from other Provinces who made the long journey to Vancouver and Victoria, for the attendance was an assurance that the Association had finally reached a stage when there could be little misgiving over its appeal to the members of the Bar in all the Provinces. It may be interesting to recall that the distinguished guests from the United Kingdom at these early meetings were : in .1920, Lord Cave, later Earl Cave, Lord Chancellor; in 1921, Sir John Simon, later Viscount Simon, Lord Chancellor; and in 1922, Lord Shaw of Dunfermline, who later became the first Lord Craigmyle.

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The American Bar Association was represented at these earlier meetings by such distinguished men as Charles Thaddeus Terry, Walter George Smith, James M. Beck, William Howard Taft, Alton B. Parker and John W. Davis. Although to keep this sketch within reasonable limits I must refer especially to the Annual Meetings, it is not to be assumed that, throughout each year, a great amount of valuable and constructive work was not done. Naturally, since there had not been any serious effort previously to bring together the lawyers of the different Provinces, it took some years to establish relation- ships and mutual confidence between men who, for the first time, were engaged in a common effort. Nevertheless, as will be apparent to anyone who looks through the earlier Year Books, a great deal of useful work was accomplished by committees and by individual members. Committees charged with the study of particular problems found it difficult to arrange meetings with representative members from all the Provinces and, as will be seen, it was found expedient later on to make other arrangements for carrying on some of the work. In some instances, in the early days, tasks were attempted which were perhaps beyond the strength of the young Association, but in a great many cases information was gathered and friendly relations were established which have been of incalculable benefit to the Association in later years. It was a realization of the difficulty of ensuring continuity in committee work that led Sir James Aikins to suggest to the Provincial Governments in 1918 that there should be established the body, closely identified with the Association, which is now known as the Conference of Commissioners on Uniformity of Legislation. The Conference, which now comprises representa- tives of the Governments of the nine Provinces and of the Federal Government, has made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of uniformity of legislation throughout Canada, consistent always with the preservation of the basic systems of law in the various provinces. It is interesting that, within the last four years, a special branch of the Conference has devoted itself to the study of Criminal Law and the Administration of Criminal Justice. In 1921 the Association, which had been until then an unincorporated body, was incorporated by Private Act of the Parliament of Canada, 11-12 George V., c. 79. At the Annual Meeting of that year Sir James Aikins made the first of his muni- ficent gifts to the endowment fund of the Association.

1948] The Canadian Bar Association

Perhaps it may be appropriate here to mention the names of a few of the leading members in those earlier" years to whose unselfish enthusiasm and far-sighted vision the Canadian Bar Association owes so much. .I omit titular distinctions, because their names are known to every student of the history of the Bar in Canada. From the Maritime Provinces there - were Hector McInnes and Stuart Jenks of Halifax, A. A. McLean of Charlotte- town, F. . R. Taylor, M. G. Teed and J. B. M. Baxter of Saint John ; from the Province of Quebec, G. G. Stuart of Quebec, C.. J. Doherty, R,. C. Smith, P. B. Mignault, J. E. Martin, Eugene Lafleur, A. W. Atwater, Henry J. Elliott, ' S. W. Jacobs, E. Wé Beatty and R. G. deLorimier of Montreal; from the Province of , John Hoskin, James. Bicknell, E. F. B. Johnston, H. H. Dewart, M. I-I. Ludwig, W-., J. McWhinney, A. MacMurchy, Wallace Nesbitt, N. W. Rowell and W. H. Tilley of Toronto, F. M. Field of Cobourg, W. R. White of Pembroke, John F. Orde and George F. Henderson of Ottawa, H. J. Sims of Kitchener; from Western Canada, our founder and President for the first thirteen years, J. A. M. Aikins, Isaac Campbell, C. P. Wilson, H. A. Robson, A. B. Hudson, T. A. Hunt and W. J. Tupper of Winnipeg, Norman Mackenzie of Regina, J. A. M. Patrick of Yorkton, R. B. Bennett and James Muir of Calgary, S. B. Woods of Edmonton, G. E. Corbould of New Westminster, C. H. Tupper and L. G. McPhillips of Vancouver, and E. V. Bodwell of Victoria. All of these and many other of their contemporaries who gave similar distinguished service have passed from us. To them we may apply the lines of tripling:

"They that dig foundations deep Fit for realms to rise upon, Little honour do they reap Of their generation, Any more than mountains gain Stature till we reach the plain."

Had I not confined the foregoing list to those who are no longer with us, I could not omit mention of a few who, happily, are still active : W. E. Bentley of Charlottetown, J. McG. Stewart of Halifax, H. A. Porter of Saint John, Louis S. St. Laurent of Quebec, E. Fabre Surveyer, John T. Hackett and Leon Gaxneau of Montreal, O. M. Biggar and John E. Read of Ottawa, R. J. Maclennan, D. A. MacRae and John D: Falconbridge of Toronto, W. F. Nickle of Kingston, Isaac Pitblado and A. J. Andrews of Winnipeg, W. M. Martin and D. J. Thom of Regina, J. A. Cross,

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now of Ottawa but formerly of Regina, and J. W. deB. Farris of Vancouver. Nor must we forget some other members whose most active work was performed at later stages in our history, but who have not lived to see this Anniversary Number: Charles Morse, the first Editor of The Canadian Bar Review, H. H. Davis and Ward Wright of Toronto, R. L. Maitland of Vancouver, and G. Gordon Hyde of Montreal. I may be forgiven, since I had direct responsibility for the secretarial work of the Association for many years, if I remind members of the Association that a great deal of this work, especially in relation to the Annual Meetings, was performed by voluntary assistants. For their efficient, unselfish and conscien- tious service behind the scenes, I realize that, too often, I was given the credit. I cannot mention all of them, but the Association owes a special debt of gratitude to G. L. Cousley, Assistant Secretary from 1923 to 1945, and warm thanks to W. F. Schroeder, who, as a young law student, first gave us the benefit of his work in 1920, to T. W. Laidlaw, my successor as Secretary-Treasurer from 1934 to 1945, and to many other young men, who, in various cities, rendered invaluable aid. For some years the Council had considered the possibility of establishing a monthly journal and at the Annual Meeting in 1922 the decision was taken to begin publication in January 1923 of The Canadian Bar Review. The Committee in charge were fortunate in securing the services of Dr. Charles Morse, K.C., as Editor. This present number, therefore, marks the Silver Jubilee of the Review, which through the twenty-five years has made an increasing appeal not only to the members of the Association but to writers and thinkers on legal subjects throughout the world. It was at the 1922 meeting, also, that the first specific sugges- tion was made of a joint meeting of the American Bar Association and the Canadian Bar Association in London. The Attorney General of England entrusted Lord Shaw with the invitation for the holding of such a meeting in 1924. It was suggested that the Canadian Bar Association should be associated with the four Inns of Court and the Law Society of England in extending the invitation to the American Bar Association, and this happy suggestion was at once approved. Although the Bar of Paris had been represented at one previous meeting, it was in 1922 that the Bar of France inaugu- rated the custom of designating a special representative to the

1948] The Canadian Bar Association

meetings of The Canadian Bar Association, and Maitre Henri Aubepin attended on .this occasion. ' The Annual Meeting in 1923 was held in Montreal and was attended, by the largest number of members who, up to that time, had attended an Annual Meeting. Hon. Charles E. Hughes, then Secretary of State of the United States, the Earl of Birkenhead, former Lord Chancellor, Mr. Martin Conboy of New York, Maltre Paul Mancel of Paris, and Hon: Estanislâo Zeballos of Buenos Aires, at that time President of the Inter- national Law Association, were the principal guests. 1924 was the year of the pilgrimage Overseas. After a short meeting in Quebec for the transaction of essential business, a party of about 500, comprising members of the Association, wives and members of their.families, sailed in the C.P. SS. "Mont- laurier", reaching Southampton on the 16th of July. The party proceeded to London, where administrative headquarters were set up at the Hotel Cecil. - The main delegation from the United States was not due to arrive until Saturday, July 19th. Since the members of The Canadian Bar Association were joint hosts with the English lawyers, advantage was taken of the three day interval before the arrival of the guests to have the English and Canadian hosts hold informal meetings to acquaint themselves with the detail of the plans. The Benchers of Lincoln's Inn gave a garden party for . the Canadian delegation; the High Com- missioner for Canada, Mr. Larkin, had an afternoon reception when the guests were presented to our senior Honorary Member, H.R.H. The, Duke of. Connaught. Mr. Bennett and Mr. Nesbitt, of the Canadian Bar, entertained at dinner when the members of the Council of the Canadian Bar Association and the Canadian judges met the English judges and leading members of the pro- fession in England, On Saturday, July 19th,' our. American guests, numbering more than three thousand, arrived in London. Then began a week of stately ceremonial and splendid - entertainment which, will ever be remembered by all who shared in it. There were special services on Sunday morning in Westminster Abbey and in Westminster Cathedral. The great and impressive opening ceremony took place on Monday, the 21st, in historic Westminster Hall, when-the Lord Chancellor, Viscount Haldaie, the Attorney- General of England,' Sir Patrick Hastings,- the President of the Law Society, R. W. Dibdin, and the President of The Canadian Bar Association, Sir James Aikins, extended an appropriate and cordial welcome to the members of the American Bar Association.

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Hon. Charles Evans Hughes, as President of the American Bar Association, and Hon. Mr. Justice Sutherland of the Supreme Court replied in memorable addresses. In words later used by Sir Lyman Duff, we witnessed "A moving pageant and ceremony - a ceremony in some sense in honour of that jurisprudence which is the common heritage of us all, and which, after the literature of England, is, perhaps, the highest, the purest, the most durable of her glories. Nothing has been wanting which could appeal to the imagination and sensibility of alawyer from across the seas." On Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings the four Inns of Court and the Law Society entertained at dinner in their respective Halls, each visitor from the United States and Canada being invited to one of these dinners. Perhaps I may mention that at the dinner at Lincoln's Inn on July 21st one Canadian junior had the honour of being seated beside one of the Benchers. The Rt. Hon. H. H. Asquithproposed the Toast to Our Guests. He was supported by the Hon. N. W. Rowell of Toronto, speaking on behalf of The Canadian Bar Association. It need hardly be said that Mr. Asquith made a speech which fully justified his great reputation. Mr. Rowell did likewise. When Mr. Rowell concluded his speech, it was very interesting for the Canadian junior to observe his neighbour lean across the table to another Bencher of Lincoln's Inn and make the comment : "Better than Asquith! ". On Wednesday the Lord Mayor entertained the senior members of the visiting delegation at a great banquet at the Guildhall. Their Majesties King George V and Queen Mary gave a garden party at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, to which all the visitors from the United States and Canada had the honour of being invited. During the week there were numerous receptions arranged by the judges and lawyers of England, by the Archbishop of Canterbury and by some of the City Guilds. The last official ceremony was a magnificent reception in the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords on Friday evening, when the hosts were the Lord Chancellor and his sister, Miss Haldane, and all the living former Lord Chancellors and their wives. After the visit to London the visitors dispersed, some going to Oxford and Cambridge, others to Edinburgh and Dublin and still more to Paris, accepting gracious invitations extended to them by the two old Universities and by the lawyers of Scotland, Ireland and France. It was an experience, in the words of a modern writer, "Unforgettable, Unforgotten". There is every reason to believe that the abiding memory was not without

19481 ' The Canadina Bar Association 11

powerful effect on thé attitude of leaders of public opinion in Great Britain, the United States and Canada in later years. I have no apology to make for enumerating some of the great ceremonies 'connected with the visit Overseas in 1924. It was an important international event, but it had also another consequence . It impressed every Canadian lawyer with the significant place which the Association had taken as representative of the profession in Canada. It must never be forgotten that the primary tasks of those who had the responsibility of leadership, in the Association in the early years were to establish and con-, solidate its position, to enlist the interest and support of the members in the widely scattered Provinces and to lay the founda- tions for constructive development. Since 1924 its warrant to speak as representative of the whole Bar of Canada has been rarely challenged. The year 1925 witnessed several significant events in the history of the Association. The Annual, Meeting of that year was held in Winnipeg. On the invitation of" Sir James Aikins, the incorporated , Governing Bodies of the Legal Profession in the various Provinces sent representatives to discuss the advi- sability of establishing a permanent organization to deal with those , problems which, under the various provincial statutes, were assigned, specifically, to the care of the official societies. This led to the..formation ,of ;the Conference of Representatives -of the Governing Bodies of the Legal. Profession in the Provinces of Canada, Sir James Aikins being elected its first President. Study of certain aspects of subjects which previously had been under consideration by committees of The Canadian Bar Associa- tion was transferred to the newt body, since it was felt that the possibility of more effective action depended upon the official bodies. The Annual Meeting in Winnipeg was very largely attended. The Rt. Hon. Lord Buckmaster came from England, Hon. George W. Wickersham . from the United States and Maitre Manuel Fourcade, Batonnier of Paris, from France. Without making any invidious comparisons, I think it is generally agreed that the address of Lord Buckmaster at Winnipeg has never been surpassed by any speaker who has addressed The, Canadian Bar Association . In 1926 the Association, for the first time, met in one of the Maritime Provinces, when a most successful and largely attended meeting was held at Saint John, . Lord Darling, who had recently retired from the King's Bench Division. of the High Court of Justice in England, was present and,, by a, fortunate

12 The Canadian Bar Review [Vol. XXVI

circumstance, the Association for the first time had the privilege of having in attendance Mr. H. P. Macmillan, K.C. (now Lord Macmillan) . Maitre Georges Chresteil came from France and the Hon. Charles S. Whitman from New York. The Annual Meeting in 1927 was held at Toronto. Lord Hewart, then Lord Chief Justice of England, was one of the principal guests. Hon. Silas H. Strawn of Chicago represented the American Bar Association and Hon. Maurice Bokanowskj, who held a portfolio in the French Government, represented the Bar of France. We had the privilege also of having Villeneuve Smith, K.C., of Adelaide, South Australia, a very distinguished member of the Bar of that Commonwealth. It was at the Annual Meeting in 1927 that our first President, Sir James Aikins, insisted upon his resignation as President being accepted. In recognition of the great and distinguished services he had rendered, the By-Laws were amended to provide that the Honourable Sir James Aikins, Kt., K.C., LL.D., should be Honorary Life President of the Association. At the conclusion of the regular business of the Annual Meeting, Hon. N. W. Rowell, K.C., referred to the retirement of Sir James Aikins, and said, in part : May I be allowed, Mr. Chairman, under the head of `Unfinished Business' to propose one resolution which I think we should adopt out of gratitude to Sir James Aikins for the long and continuous service he has rendered to this Association? (Applause) `That this Association place on record its great appreciation of the long and distinguished service rendered by Sir James Aikins to the Association . `Sir James Aikins assisted in organizing, and presided at, the preliminary meeting held in Ottawa on the 12th of February, 1914, called to consider the question of organizing a Canadian Bar Association. He also presided at the adjourned meeting on the 31st of March, 1914, when the Association was formally organized and a Constitution adopted, and was unanimously elected first President of the Association. He was unanimously re-elected President at each successive Annual Meeting until the present, when he declined re-election . `During the entire life of the Association, Sir James Aikins has been its guiding spirit, the promoter and organizer of its manifold activities, and to him is due the credit for the remarkable progress the Association has made and the high place it now holds in the public confidence.

`We recognize that without his Presidential interest and co-operation, without his inspiring and helpful leadership, without his great ability, without his untiring energy, and without his sympathetic contact with the members of the Bar throughout Canada, the result we have today would not be possible .' (Applause)

1948) The Canadian Bar Association 13

Those who have attended this gathering from other provinces have been good enough to say that it is the most successful in our history. This Toronto meeting of the , Association is but the culmination of the untiring efforts of Sir James Aikins. We all recognize that no words can express the debt we owe to him for the great service he has rendered to the Canadian Bar, and the larger service he has rendered to the Dominion of Canada; but in justice to ourselves we desire to_ place on record - although The Canadian Bar Association is the monument to his work ~- this expression of our appreciation, admiration and affection. Hon. J. E. Martin of Montreal, who for five years had filled the office of Dominion Vice-President, was elected President to succeed Sir James Aikins. A few months after his election, Chief Justice Martin became gravely ill and it was a matter of great regret to all the members of the Association that during his year of office he was prevented from carrying on the duties of President in the manner he would have desired. He was unable to attend the Annual Meeting of 1928, which was held in Regina. This meeting.was most successful. The Rt. Hon. H. P. Macmillan, K.C., represented the Par of Great Britain and we also had the pleasure of welcoming Hon. Hugh Kennedy, Chief Justice of Ireland. Mr. Henry Upson Sims of Birmingham, Alabama, a former President of the American Bar Association, represented that great body and the Bar of Paris sent a very distinguished representative in the person of Maitre Armand Dorville. Chief Justice Martin intimated that owing to illness he would be unable to accept nomination for a second term as President. Accordingly, Hon. Wallace Nesbitt, K.C ., of Toronto was elected President. Early in 1929 the Association sustained two great losses. ®n the 27th of January, 1929, Chief Justice Martin, our second President, died after a long illness. ®n February 28th the Association lost its Honorary Life President and Founder, Hon. Sir James Aikins. By a most peculiar coincidence, Sir James Aikins had arranged to 'celebrate, on the 25th of February, the fiftieth anniversary of his call to the Bar of Manitoba. With characteristic generosity he had invited as his guests at dinner on that occasion every member of the Bar of the Province. Pre- parations had been made to present him, at the dinner, with a Golden Book containing letters of appreciation of his work from prominent jurists from almost every country in the world. By an untimely.stroke of fate, Sir James Aikins-had a heart attack in the early morning of the day upon which the dinner was to be held. Old friends from all parts of the Province were already in Winnipeg for the purpose of attending the dinner. In addition, Robert E. L. Saner of Dallas, Texas, former President of the American Bar Association, had come to bring greetings from a

14 The Canadian Bar Review [Vol. XXVI

host of friends among lawyers of the United States. Sir James Aikins' old friend of nearly fifty years standing, Chief Justice Sir François Lemieux, had journeyed from Quebec to be present. Notwithstanding the anxiety which was felt, Sir James Aikins insisted that the dinner proceed in his absence. At that time there was some hope that his condition might improve, but at midnight on February 28th he had another attack and passed away. I shall not attempt to appraise the great services rendered to the Association by Sir James Aikins. The Memorial Number of The Canadian Bar Review, which was published a few weeks later, contains appropriate tributes from those associated with him in the work of the Association. To add to- the misfortunes of 1929, the President of the Association, Hon. Wallace Nesbitt, had a serious attack of illness a few weeks before the Annual Meeting held at Quebec early in September and was unable to attend. Owing to Mr. Nesbitt's absence, the Dominion Vice-President, Hon. R. B. Bennett, K.C., M.P., cancelled other engagements in order to preside and take the responsibility for the conduct of the proceedings. Lard Hanworth, then Master of the Rolls, was the guest from Great Britain, Mr. Gurney E. Newlin, of Los Angeles, President of the American Bar Association, represented the American lawyers, and Maître Lucien Baudelot represented the Bar of France. It is no secret that Mr. Bennett, who two years earlier had assumed heavy political responsibilities as leader of his party, had intimated when he had been elected Dominion Vice-President at Regina in 1929 that, because of his political responsibilities, he could not entertain the possibility of becoming President for some years. He had hoped that Mr. Nesbitt would have been available to accept another term of office. Mr. Nesbitt, however, sent a message that in no circumstances could he, having regard to the advice received from his physicians, accept re-election. Mr. Bennett then suggested that either Mr. Rowell or Mr. Lafleur should take the office but, for personal reasons, neither found it possible to accept. As it turned out, this was the last occasion when the members of The Canadian Bar Association met with Mr. Lafleur, for he died a few months later. One of the determining factors in inducing Mr. Bennett to accept the Presidency was an intimation we had received that a delegation of the lawyers of England, France, Scotland and Ireland would, in 1930, visit Canada and the United States to return the visit of the American and Canadian Bar Associations to those countries in 1924.

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During the winter of 1929-30 several conferences were held .between committees of .the Canadian and American Par Associa- tions to settle arrangements for the visit of bur guests from Overseas. It was decided that the visitors should disembark at Quebec and should make short visits at Quebec, Montreal and Ottawa before proceeding to the Annual Meeting of The Canadian Par Association to be held at Toronto. The arrangement was that, when the Toronto meeting was over, they should visit Niagara Falls and, after spending a day on the Canadian side, should then become the guests of the American Bar'Association., That Association arranged an itinerary extending over some weeks, including visits to Buffalo, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Chicago, Wash- ington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston. In May 1930. Parliament was dissolved and our President, Mr. Bennett, was engaged in his political campaign until about the end ~of July. As. a consequence of the election, he had then, to proceed to form his Ministry. Norwithstanding these dis- tractions, he found time to take an active, personal interest in all the plans for the welcome to our guests, although, as may be understood, he found it impossible to carry out his plan of going to welcome the party upon its arrival in Canada and requested the Dominion Vice-President, Mr. Louis S. St. Laurent, to carry out this pleasant duty. As a -result of a delay in arrival, the plans for the programme at Quebec had to be abandoned and, after a hurriedly arranged motor drive, two special trains left for Montreal, which was reached about 5 p.m. After a Special Convocation at McGill University, a great dinner was given by the Bar of Montreal at the Windsor Hotel. The following day-the party visited Ottawa. The Annual Meeting of The Canadian Bar Association was opened at Toronto the next morning. As would be expected, this meeting was one of the most in and most largely attended in the history of the Association. Mr. Bennett, having intimated that he could not accept a second term as President, was succeeded in that office, by Mr. Louis S. St. Laurent of Quebec. It. will, of course, be recognized that a great deal of expense was incurred and perhaps, at this distance of time, I may state that, in addition to very large contributions by Mr. Bennett personally, . generous assistance was given by members of the Bar of all the Provinces . It had been planned to hold the Annual Meeting of 1931 in Calgary, but -early in the spring of that year the suggestion was made by the Bar in Alberta that it might be more convenient for

16 The Canadian Bar Review [Vol. XXVI

them if the meeting there could be deferred for one year. Accord- ingly, in 1931 the Association met at the Manoir Richelieu, Murray Bay. Interesting addresses were made by Maitre Fernand Payen, Batonnier of Paris, Sir Lynden Macassey and Dr. Herbert F. Goodrich, the representative of the American Bar Association. In 1932 the Association held its Annual Meeting for the first time in the Province of Alberta, at Calgary. Few meetings are more pleasantly remembered by those who attended . It was at this meeting, in his own city, that, at the suggestion of Mr. Rowell, the Rt. Hon. R. B. Bennett was asked to become Hon- orary Life President of the Association, an office which he filled until his death in June 1947. At the Calgary meeting, Viscount Hailsham, a former Lord Chancellor and, at that time, Secretary of State for War, was present representing the lawyers of Great Britain; Maitre Olivier Jallu represented the Bar of Paris and Hon. William P. MacCracken the American Bar Association. Mr. St. Laurent, having filled with great distinction during two rather trying years the office of President, was followed by the Hon. N. W. Rowell, K.C., of Toronto. Before the Annual Meeting of 1933 in Ottawa, the Council of the Association decided that, to afford greater opportunities for the discussion of important questions of interest to groups of members, the experiment should be made of establishing Sections, such as that of the Junior Bar, on Insurance Law, on Administration of Civil Justice, on Legal Education and Training and on International Law, and to provide for Sectional Meetings. The experiment proved so successful that the Sectional Meetings have now become and are recognized as most useful agencies for advancing the work of the Association. It was also, if I mistake not, in 1933 that the Ontario Council of the Association inaugurated the practice of holding a provincial meeting of the members resident in that Province. These meetings have been attended by increasing numbers and have contributed greatly to the development of the Association in Ontario. At the Annual Meeting in 1933 Mr. Justice Roche (now Lord Roche) was our guest from England, while Mr. James Grafton Rogers represented the American Bar Association and Maitre Ernest Vallier, the Bar of France. Montreal was selected as the place of meeting for 1934. Lord Tomlin, who had been a member of the visiting delegation in 1930, was the chief guest from the United Kingdom, Maitre Olivier Jallu, who had been with us at Calgary in 1932, came from

19481 The Canadian Bar Association- 17

France and Hon. Charles E. Martin, President of the American Bar Association, came from the United States. Mr. Howell, who had been unremitting in his attention to the work of the Associa- tion, retired from the Presidency and was succeeded by Mr. Isaac Pitblado, K.C., of Winnipeg, who, from the time of organiza- tion, had rendered valuable service to the Association in many fields of activity. The Annual Meeting of 1935 was held at Winnipeg. Mr. Pitblado, in his Presidential Address, reviewed the history of the Association during its first twenty-one years. Sir Boyd Merriman (now Lord Merriman) was the guest from Great Britain and Hon. William L. Ransom represented the American Bar Associa- tion. The Bar of Paris found it impossible, that year, to send an official representative. In spite of suggestions to the contrary, Mr. Pitblado, for personal reasons, was unable to accept re-election as President and, since that time, each President has held office for one term. In 1935 Mr. George H. Montgomery, K.C., of Montreal, was prevailed upon to accept the Presidency. 1936 was the, year when we first met in Nova Scotia, assembling in the historic City of Halifax in August. Lord Thankerton represented the lawyers of Great Britain, Hon. William D. Mitchell, of New York, the American Bar Association and Maitre André Vienot, the Bar of Paris. Hon. H. H. Davis, of the Supreme Court of Canada, was elected President to succeed Mr. Montgomery. , Toronto was the scene of one of the largest Annual Meetings the next year, 1937. It was _then we had, for the first time, the privilege of welcoming one who has visited us on several subsequent 'occasions and whose presence and assistance have, been increasingly appreciated, Norman Birkett. Maitre Jacques Charpentier represented the Bar of Paris and Mr. Frederick H. Stinchfield, of Minneapolis, the. American Bar Association. Mr. Justice Davis was succeeded as President by the Hon. J. W. deB. Farris, K.C., of Vancouver. In 1938 we had a most delightful and successful meeting in Vancouver. Viscount Finlay, whose father was our first guest from England in 1919, carne from the United' Kingdom, while Hon. Arthur T. Vanderbilt represented the American Bar Associa- tion. This, as it happened, was the last meeting of the Association' attended by our Honorary Life President, Mr. Bennett. Mr. L. E. Beaulieu, K.C., of Montreal, followed Senator Farris as President.

18 The Canadian Bar Review [Vol. XXVI

The Annual Meeting of 1939, held at Quebec, met under the shadow of the War which broke out a few days later. It was perhaps fitting, therefore, that the chief guest from Great Britain should be a member of the British Government, Viscount Maugham, then Lord Chancellor, and the chief guest from France, the indomitable Maitre Jacques Charpentier, who, a year or so later, was to take a prominent part in the effort to preserve the liberties of France. Hon. Frank J. Hogan, of Washington, was an admirable representative of the American Bar Association. Mr. D. L. McCarthy, K.C., of Toronto, was the appropriate selection as President to succeed Mr. Beaulieu. The summer of 1940, marked as it was by world-shaking events, was not, in the opinion of the President and the Vice- Presidents, suitable for an Annual Meeting and the plans which had been made for the holding of the meeting in Ottawa were abandoned. Accordingly, it was not until 1941 that the next Annual Meeting took place, in Toronto. Sir Norman Birkett, very gallantly, flew across the Atlantic to bring us a message of confidence and greeting from Great Britain, Mr. Jacob M. Lashly conveyed the fraternal greetings of the American Bar Association, while Dr. Enrique Gil, of Buenos Aires, spoke for the lawyers of South America. Mr. McCarthy was succeeded as President by Mr. J. McGregor Stewart, K.C., of Halifax. In 1942 the Transport Controller and other Government agencies asked that large conventions should not be held, to ease the strain on transportation and other facilities required for the war effort. Very reluctantly, therefore, and after consultation with the Vice-Presidents of the Provinces, the President concluded that it would be impossible to hold a regular annual meeting. Accordingly a meeting of the Council was held at Windsor, Ontario, advantage being taken of the opportunity to participate in some of the sessions of a curtailed meeting of the American Bar Association being held, about the same time, at Detroit. Mr. Stewart, who had assumed heavy obligations of a voluntary nature connected with the war, felt it necessary to tender his resignation as President to the Council. In consequence, the Council unanimously asked Mr. G. H. Aikins, K.C., the Dominion Vice-President, to become President. It must not be assumed that the work of the Association was not proceeded with and even extended during the war years. The record of the War Work Committee, under the chairmanship of Mr. K. F. Mackenzie, K.C., of Toronto, and of other committees throughout the country, is one of which the Association may be justly proud.

19481 The Canadian Bar Association 19

Mr. Aikins,- during his year of office, was most assiduous in keeping in touch with the activities of all the committees and branches of the Association. It was during his presidency that steps were taken to set up an Executive Committee, comprising the Dominion officers and the Provincial Vice-Presidents,, and he convened the first meeting of this committee at Toronto in 1943, immediately prior to the mid-winter meeting of the Council. The Annual Meeting of 1943 was held at Winnipeg. Lord Wright, one of the senior and most distinguished members of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, although by no means' young, flew across the Atlantic to attend. Mr. J. Grafton Rogers for the second time, represented the American Par Association. Mr. Aikins was succeeded as President by the Hon. R,. L. Mait- land, K.C., of Vancouver, then Attorney-General of British Columbia. Under Mr. Maitland's presidency, the Annual Meeting of 1944 was held in Toronto. It was not possible to arrange for the attendance of representatives of Britain and France. The chief evening address was made, accordingly, by our eloquent and distinguished fellow member,' Leonard W. Brockington, K.C. Joseph W. Henderson, of Philadelphia, -represented the American Bar Association. Hon. F. P. Brais, of Montreal; was elected President in succession to Mr. Maitland . Elaborate preparations had been made by Mr. Brais and his associates for the Annual Meeting of 1945, to be held at Montreal, when, to comply with an,®rder under the War Measures Act restricting the number of persons to be accomôdated on railways and in hotels for the purposes of a convention; it was found necessary to cancel the plans and to hold only ameeting of the Council, limited in representation. Notwithstanding this disappointment, a very pleasant and useful meeting was held, attended by Lord Goddard, now Lord Chief Justice of England, representing the Bench and Bar - of Great Britain, by . Maitre Jacques Charpentier, Batonnier of the Bar of Paris, making his third official visit to The Canadian Bar Association, and by David A. Simmons, President of the American Bar Association. Mr. Brais was followed as President by E. K. Williams, K.C., of Winnipeg. The Annual Meeting of 1946 took place in Winnipeg and was very largely attended. Mr. Justice Croom-Johnson came from the United Kingdom, Maitre Marcel Poignard, from the Bar of Paris and Mr. Willis Smith from the American Bar Association.

20 The Canadian Bar Review [Vol. XXVI

Hon. J. C. McRuer, of Toronto, was elected to succeed Mr. Williams as President. In 1947 the Annual Meeting was held at Ottawa. On this occasion we had as guests the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain, Viscount Jowitt, Sir Norman Birkett, Maitre Marcel Poignard from Paris, and Mr. C. B. Rix, President of the American Bar Association. Mr. John T. Hackett, K.C., of Montreal, was named President to follow Chief Justice McRuer and we are looking forward to a year of progress under his leadership . And now, if I may be allowed, I should like to add a personal word. It has been my unique privilege to attend every Annual Meeting of the Association, except one, and to be present at every mid-winter meeting of the Council, save two. The mid-winter meetings of the Council in recent years have been attended by greater numbers than were some of the earlier Annual Meetings of the entire Association. If, therefore, in this sketch, I may appear to have touched too lightly upon the expanding activities of the work of the Sections and Committees in many fields, it is because it is no longer possible for any individual to keep abreast of all of them - a very healthy sign. I can only hope that someone with a more gifted pen than mine will essay the task of studying the twenty-nine volumes of Proceedings on our shelves and the twenty-five volumes of The Canadian Bar Review, and of preparing an adequate history of the Association. At the same time, I have had such enjoyment in whatever little I have been able to do in the Association during the last thirty-four years, I have received so many kindnesses from members in every Province, my life has been so enriched by valued and warm friendships brought about by participation in the Association's work, that I must take this occasion to express my grateful thanks. There are now not many left who have had to do with the Association since its organization. All of them, I know, share a common pride in its record of achievement and in its honourable tradition of service to the public and to the profession . We look forward with a sure confidence in the future, when we see the keen interest the younger members of the Bar are showing in The Canadian Bar Association and the prominent part they are taking in the shaping of its policies. In their hands may be safely left the future of the Association, assured of even greater achieve- ments in a changing world, and assured also that, in their care, the lustre of its great traditions will not be dimmed.