RETIREMENT OF MR. F.K. KELLING

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 81, 3 October 1921, Page 8

RETIREMENT OF MR. F.K. KELLING

The staff of the Government Insurance Department met together on Friday afternoon in the Social Club- room, to bidl farewell to Mr. P. K. Kelling, of the Head Office, who is severing his connection with the Department after forty years service.

The secretary, Mr. G. W. Barltrop, who presided, in asking .Mr. Kelling to accept, on behalf of, the staff of the head office and the branches, an -Humiliated address and a cheque %r a substantial amount, said that he was very pleased that the lot of making- the presentation had fallen to him, as he had known Mr. Kellingi longer tHan anyone in the office, his connection with him dating back to the year 1878. Mr. Kelling was negardod by all who knew him .as a thoroughly conscientious', clean-living, and cleanthiakingi man, and, above all (that word which says so little and means so much), a "Sport." His generosity and liberality were known to all who came in contact i with, him ;he was always ready to help a lame dog over a stile, and his genial disposition had endeared him to mwy member of the staff. Mr. Kelling's prowess, in the cricket and foot--1 ball fields was well known in days gone by, whilst in the world of chess his name was a household word throughout New Zealand. Mention was also madb of the valuable patriotic work perform&di by Mr. Kellinig during the war, both, in connection with th© .Returned Soldiers' I Repatriation Department and the Bed Cross Society. The Accountant, Mr. G. A. Kennedy, endorsed all that Mr. Barltrop had [ said, and read numerous telegrams and letters of farewell which had been received from the branches, with whom Mr. Kelling had for many years acted as a kind of "home correspondent" in recording- all matters of interest which tqok place in the head office. Mr. Kelling, in thanking Mr. Barltrop and Mr, Kennedy for the kind words which had been said, and the staff for the presents that'had been made to him, recounted many amusing and interesting incidents which had occurred during his long term of office. All the principal officers of the Department, including the Commissioner, Mr. J. H. Richardson! C.M.G., and praci.tically the whole of the Head Office staff were present, and the proceeding were brought to a close with three cheers being given foi Mr. Kelling and the •singing of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." The illuminated address, which is a very beautiful and artistic piece of work, was executed by Mr. B. R. TTakelin, one" of the officers of the Department.