MOTORISTS' TRIBUTE'S

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 138, 12 June 1936, Page 4

MOTORISTS' TRIBUTE'S

FAREWELL TO MR. W. C. WALKLEY Glowing tributes to the executive ability of Mr. W. G. Walkley, until recently secretary of the North Island Motor Union, who is proceeding to Australia to take up another position, were paid by secretaries and other representatives of automobile associations affiliated to the North Island Motor Union, at a dinner at the Hotel St. George last night. There were present Messrs. W. A. O'Callaghan (president of the N.I. M.U.), J. H. Edmundson (Hawke's Bay), N. H. Mackie (Palmerston North), E. A. Batt (Wellington), J. Aylmer (Wanganui), F. J. Hill (Wanganui), S. I. McKenzie (Palmerston North), N. C. C. Shepherd (Wairarapa), R. W. Roydhouse (Wairarapa), V. Duff (Taranaki), H. A. Gilbert (Wellington), R. M. Chadwick (Hawke's Bay), W. A. Sutherland (.Wellington), E. Palliser (Wellington), W. T. Guild (Taranaki), and A. J. Toogood (Wellington).

Mr. O'Callaghan, who presented Mr. Walkley with a silver cigarette case and cigarette box suitably engraved, said that during Mr. Walkley's six years as secretary of the N.1.M.U., he had set a very high standard. They were 'very sorry to lose his services, but when he went to Australia he carried with him their best wishes for his success.

Mr. Edmundson said that when Mr. Walkley was, appointed secretary he introduced an entirely new note into the union; a note of goodfellowship and camaraderie. He was largely responsible for the present high position of organised motoring in the Dominion today.

All others present also paid tributes to Mr. Walkley and Mrs. Walkley.

Returning thanks for the tributes that had been paid and for the kind wishes expressed, Mr, Walkley said that the North Island Motor Union was a responsible body which worked Wholeheartedly in the interests of motorists generally. He predicted that within a few years there would be 50,000 members associated with automobile associations in the North Island. Motoring unions, he said, should have'no politics; they had no fear and no favour. If they felt they were right they 'should not hesitate to tell the Government their views. Cheers and musical honours were accorded both Mr. and Mrs. Walkley.