VALUABLE SERVICES

Evening Star, Issue 22067, 28 June 1935, Page 6

VALUABLE SERVICES

- LOCAL BODY MEMBERS RETIRE i ; APPRECIATION OF CITIZENS S ; PLEASANT FUNCTION LAST NIGHT 1 At an impressive aud enjoyable function held in the 00110014; Chamber : of tho Town Hall last night concrete appreciation of the services rendered ' to the city by Messrs J. J. Marlow ■ and J. B. Shaddock, as members of ■ tho City Council, and Mr W. E. S. ’ Knight, as a member and chairman of ■ the Otago Hospital Board, wms exi pressed by a large gathering of citii zens. The guests of the evening were i the recipients of suitable gifts, and i their valuable services to the public were the subject of warm eulogy from • the speakers. The chairman of the . Citizens’ Association (Mr _ W. R. ; Brugh) presided, and with him on the - platform were representatives of many local bodies, PRESENTATION TO WIVES. In presenting bouquets to Mesdamea Marlow, Shaddock, and Knight, Mrs S. M. Park said she was acceding with pleasure to the request of tho executive of tho. Citizens’ Association, who had asked her to express appreciation of the admirable qualities which enabled these wives of public men to help their husbands in the carrying out of their duties. Mrs Park referred to the unique nature of tho occasion, which marked the retirement of three men who had given long service in tho community interests. One often heard of the qualifications that were necessary in men carrying out a public duty, but one did not so often hear of the qualifications that were required in the wdves of such men. She was sure that the three wives whom she wished to honour possessed all tho qualifications to a very high degree. (Applause.) They had played no small part in helping their husbands in the cause of their arduous duties MR MARLOW’S RECORD. The chairman explained that arrangements had been made for different speakers to refer individually fo the guests of the evening, and to him had fallen the pleasant task of paying ft tribute to Mr Marlow. ‘‘ It is difficult to say all one would like to say about a .man who has put in 38 years of civic life,” said Mr Brugh. “ Dunedin was little more than half-grown when Mr Marlow first became v a councillor in tho neighbouring borough of South Dunedin.” Besides serving South Dunedin he Jiad also been a member of the St. Kilda Borough Council, and twice had occupied the position of mayor. Moreover, tor 25 years he had served the city, having been chairman of several of tho City Council committees; It would seem quite impossible for any man so busy to take an interest in other matters, but, like most busy men, Mr Marlow had found time for other things. Afcr referring to Mr Marlow a numerous other activities, as well as to his interest in various sports,' the chairman added that this was surely a record to bo proud of. Not only had Mr Marlow done all those things, hut. he appeared to have done them remarkably well.—(Applause.) Mr Brugh went on to- refer to the strenuous and clean fight put up by Mr Marlow at the mayoral election, and said that, to use a hackneyed but nevertheless apt expression, he had taken his defeat like a “ true sport.” They as citizens had taken his defeat in a manner guided by his own example. Mr Cox was now their mayor, and they would give him the allegiance duo from every loyal citizen— (applause)—reserving, of course, the right of free speech ami trenchant criticism.—(Laughter.) They did not regard Dir Marlow as going off the civic stage, concluded the chairman. He had the garnered wisdom and mature experience that came with the years, and there must be a place to which he was fitted. The presentation had come in a voluntary manner from all classes of citizens. .Bond .street had contributed and; the widow’s mite had helped to swell the fund. Mr Brugh handed to Mr Marlow a silver tea service and a cheque. LENGTHY SERVICE, Presenting Mr J. B. Shacklock with a clock mounted on a greenstone base, Mr J. H. F. Hamel said that if Mr Marlow had served the city for 38 years his champion had beaten him by a year. Mr Shacklock was a member of the South Dunedin Council 38 years ago, and was mayor of that borough, in 1906. Some eight years later he became mayor of the city itself, and throughout the long period in which he had Liken tin active part in tho public life of Dunedin his shrewd common sense had been dominant. There must also be a lot of fight in Mr Shacklock’s character, said the sneaker, because in the borough in which he had first be- : come prominent one had to be a fighter ; to get anyyheye* He fljas p, dour, -

quiet fighter iyho made no fuss and did not ask for spotlights, but he was always “ hi at the death.” There -would be no citizen in Dunedin who would begrudge Mr Shacklock his retirement after such a long period of hard work, \and ho know that he was voicing the sentiments of those citizens when he hoped that Mr Shacklock would bo happy in his retirement. He also hoped, however, that Mr Shacklock would be ready with his wise counsel whenever it was needed during these difficult times. It was questionable, concluded Mr Hamel, if ho was as wise as he ought to be in retiring at the present time, but the decision was his own, and he. would retire respected by ail, (Applause.)

PRESENTATION TO MR KNIGHT. Dr W. Newlands, in presenting an old English clock and u cheque to Mr Knight, said that the recipient had not been for quite so long a citizen of Dunedin as had Messrs Shacklock and Marlow, but ho had been \associated with local body work in Tnapeka bfeforo coming to Dunedin. Afterwards he had retained the faith of the country people, and had been their representative on tho Hospital Board. Later he had ably represented the interests of tho city. In this work he had had the assistance and encouragement of Mrs Knight. Perhaps as chairman of the board he had not been so much in the limelight as the members of the City .Council, but his work had been just as arduous, and ho had displayed as great a devotion to duty as any other local body member in Dunedin. The board was sorry to part with him and would miss his long experience and knowledge of hospital affairs. Schemes were on hand which might make great changes in the hospital service, and they would be glad of Mr Knight’s advice in the problems that would have to ho settled. VARIOUS SPEAKERS. Mr W. Downie Stewart, M.P., said that ho had had the pleasure of serving with Messrs Marlow and Shacklock on tho City Council, and he could endorse what had been said of their great work for the city. They had been members at a time when some of the largest civic undertakings had been launched, and their work in this respect had beep of the greatest value. It had been said that it was regrettable that there was no place in which their services would still bo available, and it ,might therefore be suggested that a kind of Legislative Council might be established in the city. (Laughter.) Local government in New Zealand, which followed the British system, was based on experience extending over centuries. . It had been notably free from corruption and had also been notably efficient. The country was fortunate in being able to call on voluntary service of men such as their guests. Their names would be placed high on tho scroll of the foremost citizens of Dunedin.

The deputy-mayor (Cr .Jones) said that ono recognised that Dunedin had one of the finest hospitals in New Zealand, and Mr Knight deserved credit for his work as chairman of tho. board which had placed tho institution in such a position. Tho work of Messrs Marlow N and Shacklock on tho City Council had been outstanding. They must indeed be proud of their record and of their service during a time in which the city had made such great growth. They must bo especially proud of their part in placing the .city in such a strong position financially. > The speaker referred especially to Mr Marlow’® part in tie organisation of $

civic queen carnival which had raised £12,000 for relief. This work was characteristic of Mr Marlow, who had always shown great sympathy for the ; poor of the city. Cr Begg, on behalf of the older memi bers of the City Council, said that tho greatest monument Messrs Marlow and Shacklock had left was the Waipori electric scheme, and both, as chairmen of the Electric Power and Lighting Committee, had done a vast amount of work that would always bo remembered It had been his, privilege, said the speaker, to serve for four years under Mr Knight on the Hospital Board, and he was fully conscious of all that Mr Knight had done. He trusted that the experience and knowledge which .the guests possessed would nob be lost to those who were left to carry on the work of tho city. The chairman of the Otago Hospital Board (Mr J, W. Dove) paid a tribute to Mr Knight’s work as chairman of the board, stating that he had set an example which anyone might be proud to follow. RECIPIENTS’ REPLIES. In reply, Mr Marlow said that nothing that had been said had given him so much pleasure as the reference to Mrs Marlow. He had always enjoyed her assistance without a single complaint. He wondered if the city realised how much it owed to the old councillors —those who had been members even before Mr Shacklock and himself. They had played a great part in placing Dunedin, so far as civic organisation was concerned, first among the cities of the Southern Hemisphere. During all his 38 years of public life he could not recall a councillor whom he was not able to call a personal friend. Questions had always been discussed on their merits and without feeling. He thought that the biggest mistake that could ever happen to the city was for its council fo vote on party lines, (Applause.) “ I: love my city, and I have tried to work for it,” Mr Marlow added, in returning thanks for the gift and the reception accorded them that night. “ I believe that love lightens all labour, and the man who loves his work will attempt the almost impossible, whereas another might despair. I still have plenty of youth and vigour, and I am still at your service. There is no greater pleasure than to know that one's I’services 1 ’services are appreciated.” (Loud applause.) Mr Shacklock, in reply, said that ho thought Mr Hamel was out in his dates. The only date that he could remember clearly was 1905, in which year ho had joined the City Councils It was no use saying that he was not sorry to retire from civic life, for in many respects lie was. He had made many friends, and had been pleased and proud to work with them. Like Mr Marlow, ho had tried to do his best, and when it came to spending money he tried to remember that he was in the position of a trustee, and had to be careful with other people’s money. _ Tho electors of the city had given him a good run, and he had never been turned down at an election. He trusted that the present councillors would continue to act in the same sound way as the councillors of tho past had done, and, in conclusion, he hoped that he would still bo able to help the city , whenever it was in his power to do so. Mr Knight said that on entering public life close on 30 years ago he had never anticipated that he would be honoured in such a way. He sum- J marisgd the growth of the activities of Ai

the Hospital Board, and stressed the fact that its expansion, had been accomplished without resort to borrowing of any kind. He also paid a tribute to the staffs working under the hoard. In his long career he had never yet fallen out with a member. He gave to Mrs Knight the greatest credit for the assistance which she had given him during his association with local bodies. During the evening Begg’s Orchestra, under the conductorship of. Mr J.’ F. Himburg, rendered a selection of items, and songs were given by Mr C. Hawes and Miss D. Sligo, A short community sing was also held, Mr Himburg being the song leader.