CITY'S TRIBUTE

Evening Post, Issue 87, 9 October 1936, Page 6

CITY'S TRIBUTE

CR. W. H. BENNETT

"STERLING AND TRUE"

Seldom has a citizen received from his colleagues in the public affairs of the city such spontaneously warm tributes as were paid at the meeting last night of the Wellington City Council to the late Mr. W. H. Bennett. The council adjourned after passing the following resolution: —

"That this meeting of the Wellington City Council place on record 'its appreciation of the services rendered to the city by the late Councillor Bennett during his 2l£ years' service as a councillor and express their sincere sympathy with his widow and iamily in the irreparable loss they have sustained, and that this meeting of the Wellington City Council adjourn as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Councillor Bennett."

They met with full hearts, said the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A, Hislop). "We. have all known for a long time," he said, "that the late Councillor W. H. Bennett was very ill, but we knew his indomitable spirit, and we had a visual expression of that in the way he continued to attend the meetings of this council. Despite the great courage and great restraint he has shown in the illness with which he was afflicted, his resources gave way to the call of the Almighty. You will be happy to know that up to the last he did not suffer. His rest was abundantly earned by the life he led.

"I suppose few of us will have the privilege, if any of us do, of intimate contact again with one just like Councillor Bennett, a man of the most sterling integrity. His opinions were the result of careful study of the facts that were before him. You could always rely on this; when he had formed his views no attempts ■ could carry him away, from them. He was sterling and true through and through. That great attribute of his character was one of the reasons why the people of this city realised his worth and continued to elect- him uninterruptedly fpr 21$ years. During that period he took part in all the activities of the city. "If one takes one main thiflg, it was his distinction as chairman of the milk committee, a position he' held for thirteen years. Right up to the end he took the greatest and most active interest in the development of that department. "Outside these activities with the council he was closely identified with the work of the Technical College, so closely that only the other day he was' taking part in discussions with its principal, Mr. Ridling, in the work of that institution. His whole life was an example of determination and courage, purpose, and earnestness of effort. "As a young man I always had feelings of deep affection for him. He was often opposed to me, and there is no opponent I have respected more, and am glad to think that we became closely identified in our work and' I am happy to think that the affection I had for him was in some measure returned. ■

"Wellington has been fortunate in having a servant such as Councillor Bennett. . For 78 years he lived here. He has seen many changes in the place, even from the* time when he used' to cross the corner of what is now Willis Street and get his feet wetted by the harbour in doing so. .He has been responsible for much of the great progress, and has left an example we can take for our' own work. DESERVED WELL OF CITY. Councillor M. F. Luckle, wno seconded the motion, said that as one who had been associated with Councillor Bennett since he was first elected to the council and had. had the honour of sitting i with him on several committees and appreciating the work he had done, the earnest effort he had put into everything, and' his straightforward honesty of purpose at all times, he could bear witness as well as any member of the council to the great service Councillor Bennett, had given and the great loss the city had sustained in his death. It was truts that Councillor Bennett lived to a ripe old age, but he was so mentally sound, able, and keenly intelligent right to tho finish that one might, have expected that he would have had several more years of usefulness in serving the city ho loved so well and with which •he had been associated all his life. There would be few members, of the council, cither in the past or the future, to deserve so well of the city, - The members of his family deserved the council's deepest sympathy. " 'Councillor W. Appleton said " tha Councillor Bennett, was a.-wonderful man. As a chairman he did not think the council had seen his equal. Ha had also been of wonderful help to the younger councillors. Councillor B. A. Wright said he could well recollect' Councillor Bennett's first appearance at the council table. He had been a real tower of strength ta the council and had given of his best to the city as a whole. ■ . - TWO MONUMENTS. 'Councillor L. McJCenzle said he had had the privilege of knowing Councillor Bennett since his early childhood and had been a member of the deputation which had persuaded him to stand for election. He left behind him two monuments that were largely due to his efforts, one the city milk station and the other the Wellington Technical College. ' They could safely say that the training of tho youth of the city, boys and girls, who had passed through the Technical College and the great efficiency of the college were very largely due to his direction and interest. His interests also in the old colonists of the city had never waned. Councillor C. H. Chapman said that even .when, one had differences with Councillor Bennett it was difficult to feel angry with him. . He had divided his life between the City Council^and the Technical College Board of Governors., Councillor Bennett had given great service to the city and had grown up with Wellington. He loved Wellington and it was a pleasure to him to see the progress the city had made. Councillor W. Duncan said the laic Councillor Bennett had left a flne legacy—a good name and the respect of his fellow-citizens. His family had lost a good father, the city a good citizen,, and councillors a good friend. ■ Paying his tribute, Councillor J. Burns said that the late councillor had a beautiful disposition and a keen sense of humour. He was a Christian gentleman and a worthy citizen. The motion was passed in the cust0 Theryne ar yal is to take Pl»ce *°™£™ morning from the Wesley *^°«»* Church, Tarariaki StreeV where, there is to be a service at 10.30/ The pallbearers at the church are to be^senlor members of the council and at_ the cemetery members of the Technical College Board of Governors. The councillors appointed to act are_Councillors Luckie, Gaudin,_ Wright, Burns, Chapman, and McKenzie.