A FAREWELL

Evening Post, Volume 50, Issue 50, 27 August 1926, Page 12

A FAREWELL

MR. A. J. PATERSON.

A large and representative gathering of members o£ the City Corporation staff and members of the City Council met in the Concert Chamber on Wednesday .Jo farewell Mr. A. J. Paterson, who is retiring from the position of City Engineer to enter into business at the end of this month, after practically twenty years' service. The Mayor, Mr. C. B. Norwood, expressed pleasure that there was such a splendid attendance of members of the staff and council to pay tribute to My. Paterson. All who knew Mr. Paterson—and he was a man one could get to know— knew that he was a man who called a spade a spade, and did so, moreover, with emphasis if necessary, but underneath it all he was a loveable man of fine impulses and generous disposition. He had been a hard worker for the city, an officer who had not spared himself, and by his real interest in his staff, and by his straightforward manner, energy, and enthusiasm, had encouraged a spirit of loyalty and co-operation. Particularly was that seen in the city's paving organisations, said Mr. Norwood, and nowhere in local body or in business life had he seen that spirit more pronounced nor the results more striking. In presenting Mr. Paterson, on behalf of the staff, with a handsome oak desk and office chair, Mr. Norwood said that it was the wish of the staff that over it many profitable business arrangements would be made. To Mrs. Paterson the staff had asked him to present three very beautiful pieces of art china. The Acting-Town Clerk, Mr. R. Tait, expressed the regret of the staff that Mr. Paterson was severing his connection with them. He had identified himself with every interest of the staff, and had never spared himself to further those interests. Mr. J. G. Mackenzie (chairman of the Staff Club) also referred to Mr. Paterson's interest in, his staff, in the day's work and socially as well.

In reply, Mr. Paterson thanked the speakers for their kind wishes, and the staff for its handsome presents. He referred to the difficulties of the Corporation staff of twenty years ago, when numerically the departmental staffs were small and the plant with which to do the work was'weak. In 1904, when he and Mr. It. J. Pringle joined the staff within a month of each other, there were 35 in the Engineer's Pepartment, of whom only ten remained to-day; of the 3G that were on the staffs of the Town Clerk, City Treasurer, and City Solicitor, only ten were left, and of the 44 in the Tramways and Electric Lighting Department only nine remained. To-day, said Mr. Paterson, the staffs were large, and in his opinion it was a better all-round staff, and a more loyal and enthusiastic staff than in any other city on this side of the line.

Cheers were given for Mr. and Mrs. Paterson niost enthusiastically. During the earlier part of the evening musical and other items were given by Misses Oakey and Warnock, and Messrs. D. Collins, J. Watchman, K. E. Luke, and W. W. Marshall. Mr. Bernard F. Page acted as accompanist.