CONFIDENTIAL
Telegram No.884 referred to Sir Ivo Rigby's "considerable stature in the Colony" and although this might mean little more than that he was a well-known character the implication was that, against the background of "a settled and accepted expectation of his appointment....both inside and outside the Courts" much more was
involved.
7. Sir James McPetrie said that Sir Ivo Righy could make a satisfactory Chief Justice. The risks of appointing him remained bu had to be balanced against the "disruption and to some extent shock" which, according to Hong Kong telegram No.884, could be expected if he were passed over. If the Governor believed that despite Sir Ivo Rigby's limitations he had more personal authority than Mr. Blair-Kerr, and sufficient knowledge of his own limitations to operate discreetly, then he (Sir James) would not oppose a recommendation for Sir Ivo's appointment.
8. Sir Leslie Monson said that there were three necessary qualifications to be taken into account professional ability,
quality of leadership and standing in the community. On the score of professional ability there seemed to be no doubt that Mr. Justice Blair-Kerr would be the better candidate. But on the
score of leadership, and that of standing in the community, bearing in mind Sir Ivo Rigby's seniority and accepted position, Sir Leslie Monson thought that he was the stronger candidate. It was reasonable to take other considerations than professional ability into account when we could expect that the appointment of Mr. Blair-Kerr would lead to the degree of upheaval anticipated.
9. It was decided that in all the circumstances it would be wiser
to recommend Sir Ivo Rigby.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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