A LABOUR EXPERT

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 119, 15 November 1929, Page 13

A LABOUR EXPERT

MR. ROWLEY RETIRING

PARTING PRESENTATIONS

SOME REMINISCENCES

There was a large, and representatives gathering of the staffs of thehead office and district office of the Department of Labour in the maip. room yesterday afternoon, whore the officers of tho Department met to make a presentation to Mr. F. W. T. Rowley, 1.5.0., Secretary of Labour, who is retiring on superannuation at the end of this month. •» Following afternoon tea, Mr. W. Newton (Deputy Chief Inspector of Factories) said that Mr. Rowley had joined the Department almost at its inauguration, and at a time when the future of tho Department was quite uncertain. Commencing as a cleric, Mr. Rowley had become accountant, chief clerk, inspector of factories, deputy chief inspector of factories, and finally Secretary of Labour, and at tho same time Registrar of Industrial Unions, Chief Inspector of Scaffolding, Registrar of Apprentices, and Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures. After briefly reviewing the growth of the Department during Mr. Rowley's term of office and making eulogistic references to Mr. Edward ■Tregear, 1.5.0., and Mr. J. Lomas, both of whom, lie pointed out, were still living, Mr. Newton asked jMr. Rowley to accept on behalf of the officers of the Department in New Zealand a handsome .oalc writing desk and bookcase combined. Mr. Newton also presented Mrs. Rowley with a pearl necklet, and Miss Marjorie Rowley with a tortoiseshell clock. s

GROWTH OF DEPARTMENT.

Mr. -Bowley, in reply, expressed regret at savoring his connection with the Department after 36$ years' service. He had joined the Department as a boy, and had spent the whole of his time and energies in its service. Having been stationed in Wellington during the whole of his service, he had seen the Department's staff grow from four officers in Wellington and three in other parts of New Zealand to 103, the present -number of officers employed. He spoke feelingly of the vicissitudes through 'which the Department had passed, duo primarily to the need of building up an organisation, watching the wide question* involved in its administration, and grappling with the socal problems arisiug from time to time that called for immediate action in the way of legislation.

MAKING PRECEDENTS.

In the preparation of new measuros o£ a legislative nature considerable difficulty was always present, as New Zealand had" been in the advanced guard of social and industrial legislation designed to ensure greater protection, moro freedom, and a happier state of things for all parties concerned. The absence of overseas legislation, with which comparisons could be mado or which would serve as working models, had thrown the officers of the Department in the early days entirely on their own resources, and the preparation of Bills for Parliamentary consideration had always been a very trying experience. At the same time, ho was glad to think he had assisted in some, small measure in jireparing several measures which had ultimately been, incorporated in the statute law of New Zealand.

DIFFICULTIES TO BE FACED.

Mr. Rowley stressed tho difficulties that faced the Secretary of Labour. On the one Bide stood the workers, highly organised and efficiently led; while, on the other, stood the employers,cequally well organised and just as ably Between the two highly-con-tending groups, the Department had to take.its stand, and endeavour, while carrying out the law, to be fair, impartial, and just in all its dealings. The head of the Department was responsible for its policy;- and, looking back over a period of 16 years during which he had directed the fortunes of the Department, he could find no occasion on which he would have acted differently in similar circumstances. Mr. Bowley concluded by assuring his officers that, while he felt keenly the breaking the ties that bound him to the Department, he, nevertheless, was looking forward to a time when he could d*evote his attention to various aspects of social and economic life to which he had given, a considerable amount of thought.

MAY WltlTE A BOOK,

He intended to develop certain ideas he held concerning some of New Zealand's problems, unemployment,, in particular, and would probably publish his views later. In conclusion, he thanked the staff for the presents to himself and family, and for their kindness to him during the years, and assured them he would put the writing desk to excellent use in his future activities, and it would serve as a constant reminder of his official days, if such were necessary.

The gathering concluded with cheers for Mr. and Mrs. Eowley and their daughter. Letters of apology were received from a number of officers, and one from Mr. P. Hally (Conciliation Commissioner) was read by Mr. Newton to the staff. ■• " •