SERVICES EULOGISED

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 55, 29 November 1923, Page 8

SERVICES EULOGISED

EMPLOYERS’ FEDERATION PRESIDENT MR. T. S. WESTON RE-ELECTED The work of Mr. T. S. Weston M president of tho Now Zealand Employers’ Federation during tho past ten years was highly eulogised at the annual meeting of the federation yesterday, when he was prevailed upon to accept office for another term. Mr. A. G. Bignell (Wanganui) said that Mr. Weston had been their president for ten years, and during that time he had held the reins of office aa well as anyone possibly could. All through the strenuous war years he had maintained the prestige of the federation, no . matter how great ths stress proved to be, and it had been found that in every case where his advice had been given it was sound and logical. Mr. Weston’s services on the Parliamentary Committee alone, with his great knowledge of the law which was always freely at the association’s disposal, as well as his time, had placed them under a debt of gratitude it would be difficult to pay. Unless they had a good head in charge of affairs they could not carry out the aims they all should have at heart. In Ml'. Weston they knew they had one whom they could trust in any emergency. The speaker had received letters from every affiliated organisation, expressing the deep gratitude they felt for the work done by Mr. Weston, for his ready assistance in any emergency, and for the kindly and good-hearted manner in which he had always dealt with them. It was the unanimous desire of the affiliated bodies that he should accept another year of office, and in that connection he had received the following document signed by every president of an employers’ association in New Zealand: — “Dear Mr. Weston, —As presidents of the several associations comprising the New • Zealand Employers’ Federation, we heard with very great regret your statement at our last annual meeting that at the close of the current year you would decline nomination as president for a further term. We all know that your years of office have been arduous. They could not have been otherwise during the progress of a world war and a period of postwar adjustment. Because of thg great amount of work and responsibility which you have cheerfully carried throughout those years we might hesitate to ask you to reconsider your decision to retire if we did not believe that the work has for you been a labour of love and that the knowledge of the great service you have rendered to employers throughout the Dominion must have been some compensation for your strenuous efforts. The associations which we represent desire us to express to you the greatest possible appreciation of your long service on their behalf, and also to request that you will allow yourself to be nominated for a further term of office. In support of our request we can urge only our necessity. We feel that your wise counsel, capable and tactful administration, and great influence, are needed to enable our organisation to achieve the best results during the difficult period of industrial development upon which the Dominion has now entered. The strength and efficiency of our organisation to-day is to a very great extent the result of the adoption of the scheme which you originated with such foresight and sound judgment in the parly part of last year. We are under great obligations to you for that, and for the very many other things we have achieved in the past, and it is our earnest hope that you will reconsider your decision to retire, and will continue to preside over the organisation which has grown up under your guidance. In writing this we are giving expression to the unanimous wish of employers, and we can assure you that a favourable reply to our request will be received with acclamation throughout the Dominion.” The letter was received with applause. Mr. Weston, who was warmly applauded on rising, said that Mr. Bignell’s speech had overpowered him. It was nice to feel that one’s work was appreciated, although he believgd the encomiums were more than he deserved, but no man could do much, without the cordial help and loyal assistance of others. For the. last five years especially he had received that from all those connected. with the management of the association. No member of the Advisory Board had re-, fused help, and on no occasion had he been let down, so it would be invidious to mention names. They had all worked so well together that it was a pleasure to bo associated with them. They had not only to consider the interests of the employers, but the general well-being of the Dominion and the necessity for doing something towards the prosperity of the people as a whole. That was one thing he admired so much in their secretary, Mr. T. 0. Bishop, who invariably looked at things in a broad way and not only considered what was good for the present day. He would be only too glad to place his services at tho disposal of the association, and would treasure their evidence of appreciation of what he had done as long as he lived as one of his most valued possessions. (Applause.) Mr. Weston was then unanimously elected president for the ensuing, year. During the afternoon tea adjournment opportunity was taken to present Mr. Weston with a handsome canteen of table silver . inscribed:— “Presented to T. Shniler. Weston, Esq., by thf> Employers’ Association of the Dominion of New Zealand as a token of their appreciation of his services to their organisation and to commemorate the completion of his ten years of office as their president.” The presentation was made by Mr. Bignell (Wanganui Association) in a short, felicitous speech, at the conclusion of which the gathering gave three cheers for the president and three more for Mrs. Weston. The president, who was taken by surprise and deeply moved by this manifestation of the federation’s regard, responded with' an .appreciative reference to the loyal support which had at all times been accorded to him by the federation and thp head office staff.