Advocate Jan 2014

THE ADVOCATE VOL. 72 PART 1 JANUARY 2014
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having tussled with him on several occasions, lured him away to partnership
in Craig, Tysoe, Harper & Langfield. This proved to be the start of both
a lasting friendship and the basis for a vibrant, growing firm. Arthur honed
his skills as trial counsel and earned his reputation for being deadly before
a jury. Initially active both civilly and as Crown counsel on the Assizes, he
soon developed a large insurance law practice.
With Tysoe’s appointment to the bench, Arthur comfortably assumed
leadership. His advice and counsel were sought by many clients, both large
and small. While very successful (which to lawyers means long hours and
briefcases home), he remained loyal to old clients from long in the past. He
was known widely as considerate and fair in his dealings with opposing
counsel and at all times civil and respectful. In 1960, he was appointed
Queen’s Counsel. Now I have to tell you here that I met his lovely daughter
(now my wife) in the rain in a pre-computer UBC Faculty of Arts registration
line-up in 1962. Soon a regular at their dinner table but without ever
being made aware of his position in the legal profession, I could sense his
pride and commitment to the profession.
Accepting that he had a responsibility not only to the profession but also
to the larger community, he ran successfully for the position of bencher of
the Law Society of British Columbia, rising ultimately to the position of treasurer
(as some of us fondly remember that title) in 1968–69. It was here that
he made his most significant contribution. His good friend Charlie Brazier,
Q.C., while travelling in New Zealand, had learned of the existence of its
Law Foundation. They, along with Ken Meredith, Q.C., took on the battle
with the chartered banks, which to this point had never been required to
pay any interest on trust accounts on deposit. You can imagine their opposition.
Nevertheless Arthur succeeded in persuading Robert Bonner, Q.C.,
then Attorney General, of the benefit of such a foundation to the people and
province of British Columbia. The Law Foundation of British Columbia was
created, with Arthur serving as the first chairman, guiding it smoothly
through the early years. The first of its kind in North America, it served as
the model for what now exists in virtually every jurisdiction.
Arthur’s family was his anchor. In 1915, his father had the foresight to
purchase acreage on the southwestern tip of Gambier Island when the only
access was by Union steamship. It was a place where returned men and
their families could live on little in rustic conditions but with dignity. Growing
up during summers there taught him things such as patience, tolerance,
the inherent value of hard work and an appreciation of the value of simplicity
in life. Within several years after returning from the war, he and Darrel
set about building their cottage themselves, by hand. No electricity to make