PROGRESS OF TAMAKI.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 124, 28 May 1927, Page 11

PROGRESS OF TAMAKI.

MR. McARTHUR EULOGISED.

HAW) WORKER FOR DISTRICT.

PRESENTATION BY RATEPAYERS.

Ratepayers of Tamaki demonstrated their appreciation of the services of Mr. G. MeArthur, retiring chairman of the Road Board, and his colleagues, Messrs. F. Baskett, A. Pycroft and P. "White, by gathering in large numbers at a social last evening, and in making a presentation to Mr. MeArthur.

Mr. G. Hogan, who presided, proposed the toast of the guests of the evening, j He hoped that they would grasp tho j great good feeling behind the gathering i that night. The retiring chairman and j his colleagues had done much valuable j work for the district, and their term of j office had been marked by very substan- ; tial progress. It was, lie considered,' a ■ disgrace to the district that they had j not been asked to stand again. The ' progress of Tamaki had really started ; from the day when Mr. MeArthur and! his board took office. Electric light, city j water and drainage were put into ! operation largely as a result of the I board's activities. Some residents con-i sidered that a concrete main road j should have been laid down, but the j financial position of the district made it I imperative that something cheaper be J provided. As a consequence a bitumen I road had been formed, and had given j every satisfaction, many new residents : having been attracted to the district. I Modern road board offices, a new fire station, improvements along the foreshore, well-equipped brick bathing houses and other improvements had been brought into being as a result of the board's progressive policy. Mr. Jack Hubber said that prior to becoming a member of the board he had been opposed to Mr. MeArthur's policy, but, having worked with him for twelve months, he now had nothing to offer but praise of Mr. Mc Arthur's efforts. "Interesting, Dut Arduous." Public service usually made more enemies for a man than friends, and therefore it was doubly gratifying to see so many people "gathere for a reception of such a nature, said Mr. MeArthur, in acknowledging the toast. Work on the Road Board had been interesting, but arduous in the extreme, and on occasions it had been necessary to call for the backing of the ratepayers. He was- pleased to say that in -the majority of cases he had not asked in vain. Mr. MeArthur thought that everyone should, at some time or another, endeavour to give a few years of service to the district in which he lived. In a growing district such as Tamaki it was essential that the residents should live within their means, and, although concrete roads were very nice for those who could afford them, there was no alternative to cheap roads when money was short. The board had decided upon cheaper forms of construction, and wisely so, for, as Mr. Hogan had pointed oat, the bitumen roads had served their purpose in the development of the dis-; trict. Qualities of Leadership. It was a splendid thing, said Mr. Baskett, to know that the old board had ; the approval and support of right-1 thinking people resident in the district. He considered that Mr. MeArthur had all the qualities of a leader. There was no poaitiontoohigh for him. (Applause.) Tho waterfront road was the biggest proposition Mr. MeArthur had attempted and in bringing the project to a satisfactory termination he had spared neither trrn« nor personal expense. Messrs. Pycroft and P. White endorsed these sentiments. Two silver entree dishes, inscribed with appropriate words, were handed to Mr. MeArthur by the chairman, Mr. Hogan, who is chairman of the Tamaki Representation Committee. He explained that, although the presentation was made to Mr. MeArthur, it was prompted by a feeling of appreciation of the services of all the members of the board who were retiring with Mr. MeArthur. The recipient thanked the ratepayers for the very kindly thought and the ! spirit h»l»iTid the gift. It was seventeen 1 years ago since he had made his home in St. Heller's, said Mr. MeArthur. He had been eiected a member of the board in 1915, and four months later was [ appointed chairman. He had resigned on February 4, 1916, and was reappointed on May 11, 1922, when he was re-elected a member of the board. Mr. MeArthur said he wished to emphasise the fact that anything which he and his board had done for the benefit of the district was due to it, and well deserved. Joining the City Soon? Mr. J. Cart, the present chairman of the board, in responding to the toast of the new Road Board, eulogised the services of Mr. MeArthur. Many of those present stated that they were of opinion that Tamaki would soon be joining the city, under the Greater Auckland scheme. A programme of vocal items was contributed bv Messrs. Stan. Pritchard and S. Carter. *Mr. G. K. Shorland acting as accompanist.