A VALUED OFFICER

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 150, 29 June 1925, Page 7

A VALUED OFFICER

PRESENTATION TO MR. D. G. CLARK "FAITHFUL, SERVICE TO THIS STATE."

Mr. D. G. ■ Clark, Commissioner ol Stamp Duties-and Secretary .for Lands and Deeds, who is .retiring on superannuation after forty years' public service, was farewelled to-day by the officers of the Stamp Duties and the Lands and Deeds Departments. ■....:-■• .

. , The : Hon. ;W.:' Nosworthy, Minister for Stamp Duties, ; said that Mr. Clark brought with him ; to the . position of. Commissioner of Stamp Duties ripe experience, wide 'knowledge .of '.affairs, sound judgment, and; a high ideal of public duty. Mr. Clark had built up for himself a wonderful reputation, for fairness : and justice. -Always approachable/ Mr. ; Clark gave everyone a patient .'Hearing, and ho had won. the admiration and. goodwill of .all the members of the staff.v. The bore : testimony to the. excellent manner in which Mr. Clark had carried, out his duties as official -head of. the Department, and added that he regretted exceedingly the loss of-Mr. Clark's services to the country. , Oii behalf of 1 the' staff, he presented Mr. Clark with a pair of. binoculars, a bag of golf, clubs, and a Kodak camera.. - .■'-.-■■ ■'■■■;"; '\ ■

Mr.-P. "Verschaffelt,; Public Service Commissioner, heartily endorsed what had -been . said by the Minister, ; and added^that he- regarded Mr. -Clark as: an ideal head of a department. He had always.found Mr. Clark's advice, in regard : to'deparfcraonkV.niatters to be sound and valuable. As Public Service Commissioner,; Mr. Verschaffelt said, he would-miss Mr. Clark .probably v more than-he' would Hhe..retirement o£ any other head of a department in the Pub-lic-Seryice. ;When oi?o reached the/high position ;in .the Public ' Service ' attaiiiDd by Mr.. Clark, it Avas. a great satisfac-l tidn to be able, to. look back to an : excellent record of service rendered to the State. :: "'■■■.-'-' .■:■■• - ■■:■■■' "' ''.

; Sir. C. E.,-■-. Nalder, Begistrar-General of .Lands, and Mr.. J. Murray, DeputyCommissioher: of: Stamp Duties, also spoke of Mr. Clark's valuable public service,: expressed regret, .at his retirement,-' ;arid,; on behalf: : of the , staffs o! both : office's, .wished: Mr.): Clark happiness, in his retirement. „ ■ .. .

:Mr: T.-Dwan added a few words, in .which: he spoke of ■ Mr. ' Clark's ,excel;lent relations with members: of the mercantile community. „- " ; . : .; -In reply, iMr.. Clark remarked that he did not think he deserved, all the gbod, things7that vhad .been said about, hini. ;Se' acknowledged -the-loyalty and good feeling/extended;: to him by- the staffs' of: the two "Departnife-nts. '!. ' :-; Proceedingjv Mr.:: Clark said he '' had been criticised, particularly by mercantile, men,.'-fo* retiring; at his,, age,; but he had :pointed out; to them that there was a • difference- betwen officers in; the Public Service arid; men: in' commercial pursuits.; : Men in the Public Service were not. out 'altogether,- after the almighty /.dollar;; but were thereto do service' to the .State, and there was more satisfaction to be got out of honest ser:yicq to • the State -than out ,of all the Jmoney '%' man .could.make. '■■." He was cer■tain" of that,', and *. commended; that idea especially to the younger. members, who were tempted; very.;often to leave the Service, in:the pursuit of mere monetary: gain. :,'He'assured.-them, that when they' -came, to their , later years; they would getimore satisfaction out of faithful service 'to'-the State and recognition -of it •than they would out of mere gain of wealth. .;;.■:::-■■;'::;;