Sir Laurie Justice Francis (30 August 1918 – 3 August 1993) was a New Zealand lawyer and diplomat. He served as the New Zealand High Commissioner to Australia from 1976 to 1984.

Biography

Born in Oamaru on 30 August 1918, Francis was educated at Otago Boys' High School and the University of Otago, where he graduated LLB in 1948. During World War II, Francis serviced with the

2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight alongside other British Empire and Dominion troops during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Ultimately, the NZE ...

after enlisting in 1943. In 1952, he married artist Heather McFarlane, the sister of Shona McFarlane. Francis worked as a lawyer in Winton, and from 1962 was a senior partner in a Dunedin law firm. He was active in the National Party, Rotary, the

Returned Services' Association The Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association, best known simply as the RSA, is one of the largest voluntary welfare organisations in New Zealand and one of the oldest ex-service organisations in the world. Wounded soldiers returning ...

, and the Presbyterian church. In 1976, Francis was appointed the New Zealand High Commissioner to Australia by the Third National Government, and was involved in negotiations for the

Closer Economic Relations The Australia–New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement, commonly known as Closer Economic Relations (CER), is a free trade agreement between the governments of New Zealand and Australia. It came into force on 1 January 1983, but ...

(CER) agreement with Australia. The CER agreement was signed in

Canberra Canberra ( ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The ci ...

by Francis and the Australian deputy prime minister, Lionel Bowen, on 28 March 1983. Francis was the dean of the diplomatic corps in Australia from 1983 to 1985 as the longest-serving diplomat there. In the 1982 Queen's Birthday Honours, Francis was appointed a Knight Bachelor, in recognition as his contributions as the high commissioner in Australia. He resigned from the latter position in 1984, returning to Dunedin to work as a legal consultant. He died in Wellington on 3 August 1993, and his ashes were buried at Green Park Cemetery in the Dunedin suburb of Waldronville.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Francis, Laurie 1918 births 1993 deaths 20th-century New Zealand lawyers People educated at Otago Boys' High School Lawyers from Dunedin University of Otago alumni High Commissioners of New Zealand to Australia New Zealand Knights Bachelor Burials at Green Park Cemetery New Zealand military personnel of World War II People from Oamaru