THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Evening Star, Issue 15066, 24 December 1912, Page 1

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

rKAISE FROM, .MR POYNTON.' [SrECIAL TO THE St*R.] December 24. High praise for the young men of tho Civil Service was expressed by Mr J. W. Poynton to-day on the occasion of a farewell gathering of the Treasury and State-, guaranteed Advances Department to wish him suc-ccv, and good health in his new work as ;i stipendiary magistrate at Palmerslon North. Speaking after a long experience of the Civil Service, and as the head successively of tile Public Trust Office and the 'J reasury. Mr Poynton remarked: that the latter was the centre on which all tho State departments turner!. . His experience enabled him with confidence to speak highly of the young men of tho Civil Service of tc-day. If {he public could gam a, knowledge of the. large staffs in the service they would be very much astonished at the number of vou'ng men who were qualifying as accountants and solicitors, and passing the higher examinations. The great majority were studious., and not given, as usually understood, to football and picture shows. 'They preferred to lay up treasures in the mental and useful arts. The Public Servico was a credit to the country, and New Zealand would, he prophesied, bencfiD raaj s much when the younger men came to tstib higher positions. Mr Poynton was presented by tho Treasury staff with a watch - (suitably inscribed), a suit case, silver-mounted decanter, and fountain pen, while the farewell gift front the Advances staff was a set of carvers and fish knives, writing cabinet, and thermos flask. In presenting these gifts to tho retiring officer, the Hon. W. Frascr. Acting Minister of Finance, .staled that he had known Mr Poynton through the whole of his career. Ho regretted that illness should have compelled him to leave a, high position in which he had done so well. Tho speaker added that ho was satisfied Mr Poynton would ho a success in his new sphere. In acknowledging the present- Mr Poynton spoke of the high quality of the young men of tho service, and also referred to the very sreit good d«uo try tho State Advances Department, which had given many their first start 'in life He/know of hundreds of instances where road workers and. Bushmen became prosperous settlers through the aissistance they got from the State Advances Office.