SIM, SIR WILLIAM ALEXANDER (1858-1928) was born at Wanganui, and educated at Wanganui Collegiate School. Articled to C. H. Borlase (1872), he completed his term in 1877, and in the following year proceeded to Dunedin, where he was employed as chief common law clerk to Sievwright and Stout. In 1879 he was admitted to the bar, and a few years later became a partner in the firm of Stout, Mondy and Sim. Sim was chairman of the first conciliation board in Dunedin under the industrial conciliation and arbitration act. In 1907 he was appointed judge of the Arbitration Court and in 1911 of the Supreme Court. In 1913 he was designated to the Otago and Southland district. He was chairman of the taxation royal commission (1923-25).

Sim was a founder of the Dunedin cremation society (and later president), a trustee of the Dunedin Art Gallery society, chairman of the prisons board and a supporter of the Patients' and Prisoners' Aid society. His legal publications include: Divorce Act and Rules of New Zealand (1892 and 1902) and (with Sir Robert Stout) The Practice of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal of New Zealand. He married (1886) Frances Mary, daughter of Joseph Walters (Victoria). He was knighted in 1924 and died on 29 Aug 1928.

N.Z. Law Jour., Apr 1928; Evening Post and Otago Daily Times, 28 Jan 1907, 30 Aug 1928 (p); The Dominion, 31 Aug 1928. Portrait: Supreme Court, Dunedin.

Reference: Volume 2, page 154

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