YOUNG CIVIL SERVANTS

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 307, 24 December 1912, Page 9

YOUNG CIVIL SERVANTS

STUDIOUS, KQT PUEASURE- ! LOVING. ! PRALSE FROM DEPARTMENTAL HEAD. fßy Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. High praise for the >oung men of the Civil Serviiee was expressed by Mr. J. YV. Poynton to-day on the occasion of a farewell gathering of the Treasury and State Guaranteed Advances Departments to wish him success and good health in his new work as Stipendiary Magistrate at Palmerston North. Speaking after a long experience of the Civil Service, and as the head successively Qf the Public Trust Office and the Treasury. Mr. Poynton remarked that the latter was the centre on which all the State departments pivoted. His experience enabled him, with confidence, to speak highly of the young men ot the Civil Service of to-day. If the public could gain a knowledge of the large stalls in the service they would be very much astonished at the number oi young men who were qualifying as accountants, solicitors, and passing the higher examinations. The great majority were studious, and not given, as usually understood, to football and picture shows. lbey preferred to lay up treasures in the mental and useful arts. The Public Service was a credit to the country, and New Zealand would, he prophesied, benefit very much when the younger men came to take higher positions. Mr. Poynton was presented by the Treasury staff with a watch, suitably inscribed. a suit case, silver-mounted decanter, and a fountain pen. while the farewell gift from the .Advances stall was a set of carvers and fish knives, writing cabinet, and thermos flask. In handing these gifts to tne retiring oflicer, the Hon. W. Fraser. Acting-Minister of Finance, stated that he had known Mr. Poynton through the whole of his career. He regretted that illness should have compelled him to leave a high position, in which he had done so well. Mr. Poynton would be a success in bis new sphere. Acknowledging the prpernts. Mr. Poynton spoke of 'he high quality of i he young men of the service, and also referred to the very great good ,!onc by the State Advances Department, wlii Ii had given many their first start in life. He knew of hundreds of instances whe-u roadworkers and bushmen became pro--perous settler- through the assistance they got from the State Advance- Office.