b'The High Court hearing lasted thirty-nine days thenthese things. Well, of course I can, Barwick retorted as he Australias longest ever High Court hearing. The court heldheaded off to Switzerland for a skiing trip.that the legislation was invalid because it infringed the constitutional protection of free trade between the statesLinklaters & Paines (now Linklaters) acted for the Bank and because it gave rise to acquisitions of property thatof New South Wales before the Privy Council. No one were not on just terms. Chifley immediately sought specialwas more relieved than Cowper when the Privy Council leave to appeal to the Privy Council in London. The followingproceedings concluded. He chased Barwick down the street month, Cowper and Barwick boarded the SS Stratheden forand, after thanking him, said, Now you can break your the three- week journey from Fremantle to London.bloody neck as far as Im concerned.This was the first international trip for Barwick, who wasAfter six months in London supervising the hearing for determined to make the most of the adventure and see thethe eight Australian banks, Cowper returned to Sydney. On sights of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), India, Egypt and England.26July 1949 the team gathered in the Bank of New South Cowper made it his personal responsibility to ensureWales head office in George Street to hear the verdict. As Barwicks safety on the trip, and he hovered over Barwickschance would have it, the radio-telephone link in Sydney every move. When they arrived in London, Cowper waswas closed that day, necessitating special arrangements to horrified when Barwick went horse riding and hunting.deliver the news. A London taxi, with its engine running, Cowper confronted him saying, You might have brokenwaited outside the Privy Council to drive a messenger to your bloody neck, to which Barwick replied, Of courseMartins Bank in Whitehall where a cable telegram with the I might have, but I didnt. Cowper explained: Look, myresult could be sent. In a historic constitutional ruling, two clients have invested a lot of money in you. You cant dowords appeared: appeal dismissed. The banks had won. At every turn in London you come acrossa scene so romantic and unreal, so strongly suggestive of formal arrangementas to be in truth theatrical.Norman Cowper, Sydney Morning Herald, 9 April 1949During his travels, Norman Cowper penned several pieces for the Sydney Morning Herald providing observations on his journey and life in London. 136'