MANY TRIBUTES

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 42, 13 November 1937, Page 9

MANY TRIBUTES

Registrar-General Of Land Retires MR. BURKE HONOURED Ou liis retirement from the, Public Service, Mr. J. J. L. Burke, RegistrarGeneral of Laud for New Zealand and District Land Registrar Registtar of Deeds and Examiner olx Titles for the Wellington Registration District, was invited to meet the members of the Wellington Law Society at the law library, , Mr. Richmond, president, expressed the regret of the society at the retirement of Mr. Burke, and mentioned the kindly assistance which he had given members of the profession. He expressed the wish that Mr. Burke would enjoy his retirement and presented him with a roll-top escritoire, a pair of fountain pens and a combined black marble pen-holder and paper-weight. Mr. Burke said he was sorry to be severing his official connection with the many friends he bad made in 44J years’ service. Subsequently, the secretary for Land and Deeds,'Mr. P. G. Pearce, the officers and staffs of the Land and Deeds Department and of the Land Transfer Draughtsmen’s Department, met to say good-bye to Mr. Burke. Mr. Laurie, Assistant Land Registrar, expressed their regret on losing it capable and efficient, officer. He felt that, thev were not only parting with a good “chief” but with a personal friend, whose many acts of kindness and courtesv had endeared him to his staff. He presented Mr. Burke with an eight-day chiming clock and an address embossed on parchment. Mr. Gordon spoke on behalf of the surveyors of the district <md Mr. Pearce on behalf of the Lands and Deeds Department. Responding, Mr. Burke expressed apprecia’tion of the good-fellowship of those with whom lie had been associated during his years of »rviee. He reiterated what he had already said officially—that the department was not receiving the attention it deserved, and that, in consequence, its officers, especi;liiv the Registrar-General of Land and ilie district hrnd registrars, who were experts in the law of real property and the many statutes which referred to titles of land, were receiving salaries which were mere pittances in comparison with those received by. other Government. officers, whose positions did not call for the same technique and skill.

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