A VETERAN PRINTER.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17702, 2 March 1923, Page 7

A VETERAN PRINTER.

RETIREMENT OF MR F. .7. BOARD. To mark his retirement after very many years as printer .of "The Press," Mr F. J. Board entertained the various night staffs of the Christchurch Press Company, Ltd., at supper after yesterday's issue had gone to press in the early hours of the morning. There was a very large attendance, a tribute to Mr Board's popularity in all departments, and the function proved a most pleasant one. Mr E. Gourlay, father of the chapel, in proposing Mr Board's health, said that Mr Board, during his long association with "The Press," had been ; honest and straightforward with everyj body. He had been the "best boss" I anyone could wish for, and his suc- | cessor, Mr E. 0. Hyde, would do well j if he did as well as Mr Board hud I done. | Mr H. Kent said that his working j relations with Mr Board had extended j over more than 50 years, Mr Board having started as a junior to him in Hokitika. Mr Kent had joined "The Press" Office about 46 years ago, and Mr Board had followed, him from tho : West Coast a l'ow months later. Mr I Kent went on to say that during tho | whole of the time he had been in tho employ of tho Press Company, there had been but three printers, which spoke volumes for the manner in which the company treated its employees. Mr' Board had always been a good friend, a good printer, a fair man to his men, and a valuable man to tho company. Mr A. M. Burns, sub-editor of "Tho i Press," said that he had been asso- | elated with Mr Board for 14 or 15 years, und he was very loth to say good-bye to him. The associations between the newsroom and the editorial i department during all that time had been most cordial, and matters between the two departments had always worked most smoothly. Tho result hud been a close and pleasant companionship which it hurt all partios to sover. Mr Burns went on to say that he had no doubt that pleasant relations would always be maintained between the new printer, Mr Hydo, and the editorial staff, and he congratulated Mr Board on his being able to retire on his laurels. He added that the editor of "The Press," who regretted bis inability to Ue present at the gathering, had asked him to couple his name with any comments that might be made regarding the smooth working of the printing and editorial departments, and to wish Mr Board the best of good' health and huppiness in his weli-earued retirement. Mr J. M. McLean, for the stereotyping department, in wishing Mr Board all success and good health in the future, said that he could say sincoroly that Mr Board had well earned his rest, and that he would leave the employment of the company with tho goodwill of all with whom he had had dealings. , In response, Mr Board said that he had had a ''protty good innings,'' and ho thought he was deserving of a rest. Ho gave some interesting reminiscences of his early days, describing his rise from "office sweeper and fire-lighter in aj newspaper oflice to printer," and remarked that although in those days a six years' apprenticeship was necessary, he had been' a journeyman before he was 19 years of age. During his 51 years' experienco of printing houses he had never once been "out of a job." When he had first come to "The Press" it had been a paper of four pages only, and naturally during the last 45 years he had witnessed great changes. Since he had been associated with "The Press" he had been privileged to work under seven managers and three editors. Managers and editors alike had peipetuated the principles under which the paper bad been established, and he thought "The Press" stood as one of the best educators as a newspaper in the Dominion. Tho Hon. W. H. Triggs, the late editor, had reason, to be proud of his efforts on behalf of the paper, and the' traditions of the paper were still being worthily maintained. Many people thought of a newspaper merely from the political point of view, forgetting the educative altogether, but '.'The Press" was a great educative factor, and a great friend of the working man. During his long association with the company he had nover read anything in the paper derogatory to the interests of the working man, but many, people, owing, to their political . feelings, could not see' that. • At the beginning of the war, '' The Press'' j had advised all and sundry to save everything possible, and if all had followed the advice offered by- "The Press," the country would be in a far better position than it was to-day. Continuing, Mr Board said that his relations with the paper' had always been of the most satisfactory character, and he had usually found that all concerned had only one object in view, the good of the establishment. It was essential that anyone holding a responsible position in such a concern, should, if the production were to be a successful one, think of working for tho firm, and leave all his private opinions in his pocket. Mr Board went on to say that, during the whole time he had been with "The Press," he had worked with four sub-editors only, and all were men who stood alone in their profession, and as men. The present sub-editor, Mr Burns, was a man who, had all the essentials and qualifications of a sub-editor of a big morning newspaper. He never thought of himself, and it was men of his calibre who helped a printer to carry out his duties in a proper way. The printer's life was made comparatively easy by the heavy burden men of tho stamp of Mr Burns were prepared to carry. In conclusion, Mr Board heartily thanked those who had spoken for their kindly remarks concerning him, and assured all that the happy times and fine fellowship that he had experienced in the office of "The Press" would never be erased from his mind. He heartily thanked the whole of his staff for the consideration and co-operation he had always • received from them. Messrs F. Rout (operators) and G. Renner (readers) spoke in appreciation of Mr Board, who then proposed the health of the new printer, Mr E. C. Hyde, wishing him a long term of office and all success and prosperity. Mr Hyde briefly responded.