HON. A. M. MYERS HONOURED

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 281, 25 November 1921, Page 6

HON. A. M. MYERS HONOURED

FAREWELL AT THE SYNAGOGUE. The Jewish people of Auckland last night formally farewelled the Hon. Ai-thur M. Myers, who is about to leave New Zealand to join his wife and family in I-ondon. In a gathering at the synagogue, at which Mr. Myers was lihe guest of the congregation, Mr. N T . A. Nathan made a presentation of an illuminated address, bound in suede leather, and containing such characteristic Auek land views as Kangitoto Island, Grafton Bridge, Myers Kindergarten, Cornwall Pai-k and the Town Hall. The gift, stated Mr. Nathan, was made as a token of Terneim'brance to Mr. Myers from his 00-religionists of Auckland, whose regard for him was conveyed in the following printed' words: —

I "On your departure from the Domi- | nion, the members -of the Auckland ■ Hebrew Congregation desire to express J tihe high esteem in which yon are held by them, and their appreciation of the valuable swpport given by you to the community generally. They recognise your whole-hearted sympathy with those I movements wlhich make for communal I life and progress. You have ever been iiealoue for the honour and good name Jof your co-religionists. Both in public 'and private life you have always been animated by the best Jewi,=;'.i kteaJs. Your strong sense of the responsibilities of citizenship and the fine public spirit you , have displayed in —your generous gifts to the oity have placed you in the very forefront of Auckland's leading citizens, while the able and conscientious discharge of your duies as a member of Parliament and Minister of the Crown has shed lustre not only mpon yourself but on Xew Zealand Jewry." The address concluded with the hope tlhat time would have many years of health and' blessings for Mr. Myers and his fannilv.

After Mr. Xathan had paid a personal tribute to the generosity and openhanded spirit that had marked Mr. Myers' private 'life, in addition to the zeail and ability characteristic of his public life, the Rev. S. A. Goldstein recounted a Ik* of the Jewish men who ihad made their mark in NW Zealand affairs, and recalled that Mr. Myers, as Mayor of Auckland, member of* Parliament and Cabinet Minister, had helped to add lusjtre to Jewish ideals in the Dominion. He looked forward to biicn guest carrying on in London amons the Anglo-Jewry the work he had embarked on in JJew Zealand.

In the course of a feeling reply. Mr. Myers declared that if h« \va« entib-ed to a half-of tV.e encomiums heaped upon 'him, he would probably 'bs satisfied with bis life. He had in a humble way fiidcavoured lo do his duty as a member of the Jewish faitfh and a citizen of a great Empire, to which more than any other hie people owed an especial dsbt of 'loyally. He had been particularly fortunate in that lie had been blessed with a mother mho had lived for her tMdren, and had enabled him to do hit* beg* towards recognising the ideals lie had mentioned. He realised that one must recognise duties to others, and though his part in public life had somewhat him from communal life here with his co-religionista, he Sloped to te a.b!e to do more in the latter direction in London. In conclusion, Mr. Myers remarked, while his future was in the laip of the gods, he did not feel that he .was saying good-bye to Auckland. Hie mother and other members of hia family, and many of his business h,. terests remained here, and he expected to ,pay return visits to the city where ( he had epent so jaajry lajjy years.