HONOURING A SECRETARY.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 220, 16 September 1919, Page 7

HONOURING A SECRETARY.

FAREWELL TO MR. P. J. L. KEXXY. Some of the most interesting meetings | in the history of the Auckland V.M.C.A.I were held on Sunday and Monday hi con- j nection with the departure from this' city of Mr. P. J. L. Kenny, who for the past three and a-half years has been general secretary to the association. On Sunday morning the young men residing in the V.M.C.A. building met in the usual residents' meeting, when Mr. Kenny spoke, and the president, the hon. secretary, and the hon. treasurer were present. On Sunday afternoon the men's meeting was largely attended, an addre s on the "Challenge of the Age to Men" being delivered by Cha.plain L. R. Xeale, and a farewell message by Mr. Kenny. Special items were given by the association orchestra, Mr Eison Bond, the St. Matthew's boy choristers, and Master Cyril Kelleway. After churc'.i the social hour a± the V.M.C.A. was largely attended, wlten Mr. Kenny again spoke.

Last evening a banquet was tendered by the assentation residents to Mr. an I Mrs. Kenny in the association dining room, presided over by Mr. J. G. Garland. After the toats of the King, proposed by th president, Mr. J. W. Court, tie chairman, in a happy little spee-eh, referred to the services of Mr. Kenny, particularly with relationship to the young men in the house. He also stated that Mrs. Kenny shouhl not be forgotten, as the life of a V.M.C.A. secretary's wife was a most self-sacrificing one. Messrs. J. W. Olphert, N.P. Carless, and E. W. White spoke in glowing terms of Mr. Kenny, referring specially to the welcome a young man always received when coming into the city where he had no friends. The function, whicn reflected great credit on the social committee, anel on the matron. Mrs. E. Kisby Mason, concluded with the sing-Tig of ''They Are Jolly Good Fellows."

Later the evening a largely attended] public meeting was hell in the lounge! whem the president. Mr. J. W. Court.l was in the chair, and was supported by; representative citizen- 3 . The chairman' stated that on behalf of the directors he desired to publicly express their great appreciation of the services ren-j dered by Mr. Kenny during a time of, great elilriculty. Anyone who knew anv-j thing at all about V.M.C.A. work cool 1 not fail to realise what a difficult job a general secretary had. Mr. Kenny had; served the association during the war period, and about half his time had been taken up in interviewing those whose] loved ones hael been wounded or killed.' This was no easy task. In addition, Mr. Kennv had been handicapped through | restricted accommodation, tne front pelrtion of the building being occupied ay the Soldiers' Club. Mr. Kenny had not' spared himself. He had given his he-t. But. he had been more than a secretary. He iiad been a friend to every young man in the building, to every member who had availed himself of his services, and to many in trouble. He could say no greater thing about Mr. Kenny than that he was a Christian gentleman, and he de=ired to thank him for all that he had done, and to express the hope that he would find a useful field where he would be able even to a greater extent to be of service to young men. The Acting-Mayor, Mr. A. -T. Entrican, stated that men of the Kenny stamp could ill be spared, and on behalf of the citizens of Auckland he desired to say that Mr. Kenny would be greatly missed. He was sorry he had not seen more of Mr. Kennv. but from what he had scon he was quite content that Mr. Kennv's heart was in the right place, and that more men of his stamp were required. The greatest testimony probably being paid to Mr. Kenny that evening was the fact that a presentation wa" being made by the whole of his staff. Other sneakers v>-ere Bishop Averill. Babbi Goldstein, Major Woe>ds (on Vhalf of the ofP""r commanding the district), and Mi«B Elsie Oriffin. M.A. (gpnoral socre+.Tv to the Y.W.C.A.), the Boy. H. E. Tlellhousp (president of the Methodist Confcrencpl, and the Eev. F. Warner (representing- Comrreeational Churches 1. I etrters -were received from Mr. C. H. Poole. M.P.. Mainr Pettit. tho Pcv. A. B. jPhanoell. M.A.. Mr. Balnh Oebbie. Tlev. !.T. W. Shaw, M.A.. and Mr. G. T. Oxlcy.