MR. G. V. SHANNON.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 529, 9 June 1909, Page 5

MR. G. V. SHANNON.

A RETIRING PRESENTATION. ' " Mr. G-.' V. Shannon (late Chief Customs Export), was .presented -yesterday, by ,Mr. -Carter; Secretary of - Customs, : with an, illum' , - inated'addrcM.from ,his fellow officers,;the occasion being his retiring from ,tho service ,of the.Department after 21 years' active'ser-' vice. On behalf; of tho officers, Mr. Carter 'also' 'begged Mr. I .Shannon's acceptance of -a silver. t«i service for Mrs, Sha'ririon. ..In mak-

■ing the presentation, Mr. Carter, spoke^f,the' greit service3 i rendered to the .Department by Mr. Shannon and of the' high-estimation'

in which he was held'by the officers throughout the Dominion.'. On behalf of himself and ;his brother officers he' wished, llr.. and Mrs.' Shannon maJiy.years of a happy and'prosper-' ous'. retirement. - Mr. Shannon suitably -' replied. The following' is tho text .of the address:— "D«ar :,Mr- S)uvnnon,—'Upon the i occasion of your retirement from, tho' p'ositipn which you' .have so a,bly held for the past. 21' years - as; Chie|, Exjlert to the Department.- of' Customs, the; officers of that Department throughout Now. Zealand desire to present you 'with.tliis :address'and testimonial as ,a slight indicatiori of their cordial esteem and good will.-,- They trust'and believe that tho happiness and', prosperity in all stations ■ of life which have beeiv so amply yours in the .past will follow jou into retoremerit from official life; but: they cannot. think that a man I .of your activity of mind and body will long allow your varied abilities to remain dormant, and they..confidently, expect in tlie near future to see' you figuring prominently in civic or political life.. Your career as . a

I'business .man-and in public Jife previous ,to your acceptance of the appointment' as Ohief .Expert in 1888 has'left its mark upon the Wellington provincial district; vAs a prqmdtor and as deputy chairman of the Jlana,/watu railway you assisted in opening up to trade with Wellington one of'.the largest, and •most fertile districts in the. Dominion! This fact has been suitably acknowledged by jour correctors in naming the town of Shannon .oil the Ma'nawatu, railway line-in perpetuation of your memory and that of your family for. all time. •_ Your services to the. State as a major of militia and volunteers, as'a member for many years of the Wellington Education Board, as a member of the Government Insurance; Board, and as a Justice of • the Peace are .well known. . ~ ; "As regards your career in the Customs Department, both the official head and the various political heads under, which' you have served from time to. time have 'recognised the fact that you brought to .the service of the Government a large business experience which eminently fitted you as an adviser in all matters connected with trade, while your j 6a \.' n P rote ction of the revenue has undoubtedly been instrumental in recovering large sums of money which would otherwise have been lost. It will bo remembered that the proposal to appoint you was met at first with great opposition from certain members of the trading community, but in the face of the striking results immediately- achieved this opposition quickly subsided, and ,the Government, the public, and the. trading community generally quickly came to recognise that you had fully justified your position. Tour retirement after 21 yoars of distinguished service will be ..severely felt,, and your many friends, in the Department at tie various Dorts in New' Zealand will greatly miss your freanent visits and the kindly advice so roadijy. tendered, upon'the many difficult questions relating to the Customs' which -o constantly arise for settlement. On behalf of the officers of the Donaftmont throug/i----out New Zenland we cordially wish-to yourself, Mrs. Shannon, and your family 'lone hfe and haziness nnd. continued prosperity I Signed on behalf of. the Customs officers of I tiio Dominion of. Now ZeAlaud." '