HIGH TRIBUTES PAID

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 183, 1 May 1936, Page 7

HIGH TRIBUTES PAID

Dr C. J. Reakes Relinquishes Office DEPARTMENT’S FAREWELL High tributes to the splendid services rendered to tlie Department of Agriculture and the farming industry of New Zealand as a whole over a long period of years by tlie retiring Director-General of Agriculture, Dr. C. J. Reakes, who relinquished ofiice yesterday, were paid by tlie Minister of Agriculture, Hon. IV. Lee Martin, and other speakers at a gathering of members of tlie department yesterday afternoon, when opportunity was taken to bid farewell to Dr. Reakes and to present to Mrs. Reakes and himself gifts as a mark of deep appreciation. The Minister said Dr. Reakes had soine into the department when it was very small. The staff numbered 106 then, but to-day its strength was 529. It was due largely to tlie work of Dr. Reakes that the department had expanded to tlie extent it had. Tlie Minister was glad to have tlie opportunity of paying a tribute to the fine work of Dr. Reakes. He had a wonderful grip of the whole department and the Government was losing a very valuable servant. A Different Track. The Minister said tlie Government was moving out upon a different track to previous Governments, and probably a more progressive spirit would permeate a number of the departments, and he hoped that the activities of the Department of Agriculture would become greater and more valuable. lie hoped that there would lie made available’to the department that finance necessary to provide to tlie farming communitv tilings that tlie farmers wanted and what they were entitled to. On a recent visit to Wallaceville 'laboratory he was amazed at the amount of work that was being done there, and he had no doubt that, the same applied to all other sections of the department. On behalf of members of the department the Minister presented to Dr. Reakes a set of veterinary instruments, golf requisites and an armchair, and to Mrs. Reakes a couch and a handbag. Mr. A. H. Cockayne offered to Dr. Reakes tlie congratulations of the de-' partment on his work. He also congratulated tlie retiring director on tlie fact that his period of ofiice had coincided with the. most important era in New Zealand’s agricultural development. Pioneer Work. “During his connection with the department‘Dr. Reakes has been associated with some very important, developments in New Zealand farming,” said Mr. W. C. Barry, director of the live stock division. “In the field of veterinary science ins name will go down to posterity. As a veterinarian he has done pioneer work in New Zealand of immense value both to the agriculturist and tlie stock-owner. • Tributes were also paid to the wort.i of Dr. Reakes and the very valuable services he had given to tlie department and the fanning industry ns a whole by Mr. \ D Thomson. Acting-Public Service Commissioner. Mr. W. C. Robinson, secretary to tlie department. Mr. W. M. Singleton, director of tlie dairy division. Mr, ,T A. Caninbell. director of .the horticultural division. Mr. R. Bl Tennent, director of the. fields division. Mr. B. C. Aston. chef chemist, and Mr. A. Ironside, division clerk of tlie live stock division, ■Dr. Reakes. replying to the expressions of goodwill, said lie had always felt that tlie members of tlie department from the top downward had at all times done their very utmost in the interests of the department. It. was witii very sincere regret that he was retiring. Ho thanked members o f the department for the gifts they had given to Mrs. Reakes and himself.