UNDER-SECRETARY FOR LANDS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 160, 1 April 1939, Page 10

UNDER-SECRETARY FOR LANDS

Mr. R. G. Macmorran Chosen OFFICIAL FAREWELL TO MR. W. ROBERTSON The appointment of Mr. R. G. Macmorran as Under-Secretary for Lands in succession to Mr. AV. Robertson, 1.5.0., was announced yesterday. Mr. Macmorrau’s former position of Assistant Under-Secretary for Lands has been filled by the appointment of .Mr. T. Bound, Second Assistant Undersecretary. The announcement of these two appointments was the last official act of Mr. Robertson, who retired yesterday after 47 years’ service. An official farewell was accorded Mr. Robertson in the afternoon in the Native Affairs committee room in Parliament Buildings. The gathering, over which the Minister of Lands, Mr. Laugstone, presided, was attended by the staffs of the head office and district office of the department, as well as by several former officials of the service and representatives of other departments.

Air. Macmorran is a son of the late Mr. G. Macmorran, who was at one time headmaster of the Terrace School, Wellington. He joined the Lands and Survey Department as a cadet in 1904, and has served that department ever since. Transferred to Auckland as a surveyor in 1908, Mr. Macmorran was later in charge of drainage work for five years on the Hauraki Plains. He enlisted in 1915 with the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, and on his return from service overseas again took up drainage work. Air. Macmorran was appointed chief drainage engineer in 1927, and four years later was appointed chief surveyor of the combined North and South Auckland district as well. In this capacity he took an active part in land development work and in the establishment of the small farms scheme. About a year ago he was appointed Assistant Under-Secre-tary for Lands, and has held that position ever since. Outstanding Record. The farewell to Mr. Robertson was presided over by Mr. Macmorran. After reading a number of letters and telegrams from officers of the department outside AVellington paying tribute to Mr. Robertson’s services and wishing him a happy retirement, be said that Mr. Robertson had had a long experience of the ramifications of the department. He bad had a strenuous term of office as Under-Secretary, but as head of the department his record was outstanding and spoke for itself. Mr. Laugstone said that, though there had been many great men as Undersecretaries for Lands, Mr. Robertson overwhelmed them all and was the greatest Under-Secretary New Zealand ever had. The department had come through trying times with flying colours, and he believed the general opinion of the department was that it did its work faithfully and well. Mr. Robertson had always been able to get the best from his staff because of his own personality. He bad made history, and helped the country in no mean way. Mr. Robertson had discharged liis duty faithfully and well. On behalf of the Government, he wished to express to Mr. Robertson its thanks for his valuable services. He wished Mr. and Mrs. Robertson every happiness and health in Mr. Robertson’s retirement. Mr. Robertson said that for the whole of his service his work in the department had been a pleasure. The staff was responsible for any success that he had achieved, and he made that statement without reservation. Presentations from the staff of the department were made to Mr. Robertson. These comprised a canteen of silver cutlery, a silver tea service, an afternoon tea set, a clock, a bag of bowls, and an album containing an address signed by officers of the department. A toilet set was also included for Mrs. Robertson. Mr. Robertson returned thanks for the bandsome gifts, and the gathering concluded with the singing of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.”