A VALUED OFFICER

Evening Star, Issue 22630, 23 April 1937, Page 6

A VALUED OFFICER

RETIREMENT OF MR G. H. * LIGHTFOOT LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S LOSS EULOGiUMS AT PRESENTATION Graceful tributes to his professional and personal worth, exercised not only in Dunedin, bpt extending throughout the service in the Dominion, were paid Mr G. H.'Lightfoot at a function tendered him yesterday afternoon by the employees of the Labour Department, of which he was officer in charge for 14 years before his recent compulsory retirement through ill-health. The eulogy, “ that from one end of New Zealand to the other he has been found a willing officer,” summarised the laudatory references of the various speakers to Mr Lightfoot’s-capabilities. He was the recipient of a gold watch, and the hope was expressed that he would long be spared to enjoy his well-earned retirement. ■ WELL-EARNED RETIREMENT. “ During the 28 years Mr Lightfoot has been in the department he has carried out his duties to the _ complete satisfaction of its heads,” said Mr H. E. Moston, of Wellington, assistant secretary of the Labour Department, after remarking that Mr Lightfoot had not quite reached the statutory retiring age, but had laid down the toils of his office on the recommendation of his - medical adviser. In his lengthy term he had seen many changes. “We all wish him well, and hope that in his period of retirement he will find joy,’

said Mr Moston. “In a way 1 he has to be envied, for during the past ,12 months the department has gone through the most strenuous time in its existence.” It was expected that when the Labour Government came into power the department would;.have, the heavy end of the stick. He enumerated the more important changes that had 'affected- the-internal machinery ;ofcthe Labour Department; ■, There wOroMwo or three clauses' in the : Finance Act restoring wages to * the 1931 ' level. “ Frpm our records. £6,000,000_ is involved by virtue of that legislation alone,” said Mr Moston. £50,000 in money has passed through our hands by virtue of the 40-hour week.” He referred to'changes through new measures introduced by the Government, and the reaction on the work of the department. The Agricultural Workers 1 Act was a complete innovation, and under it thousands of farm and dairy workers were affected. This legislation imposed a great amount of work on the department, in the North Island particularly. Then there were also the Fair Rents Act, amendments-to the Factories Act, the Shops and Offices Act, and also new wards and other matters dealt with by the Arbitration Court.' “ It is gratifying to know that the officers of the department throughout the Dominion are standing up to the work,” commented Mr Moston. When Mr Lightfoot was stationed in Wellington the officers there had been a very happy family, and he had participated in the enjoyable social part of the work. From one end of the Dominion to the other he had been found a willing officer of the department, and on behalf of all the officers Mr Moston wished him future prosperity and a speedy restoration to health, so that he could enjoy the good things left for him in his leisure. Mr Moston then presented him with a gold " atch on behalf of the Dunedin staff and the officers throughout the service. He also extended felicitations to Mrs Lightfoot. “ HOLDS ESTEEM OF ALL.” “ I have not worked with Mr Lightfoot, but have opine into contact with him on one or two occasions, and 1 know that he holds the esteem of all the officers who have worked with him,” said Mr G. F. Grieve, his successor. Ho wished Mr Lightfooton behalf of the local staff, the best wishes in his retirement. Mr W H. Cadwallader, senior inspector of the local office, endorsed what the other speakers had said. MR LIGHTFOOT’S REPLY. Rising to reply, Mr Lightfoot was accorded musical honours. He tlaced his career in the department. After five months in Ashburton he had been transferred to Timaru, where he was stationed for five years before being promoted as officer in charge of. the Invercargill office, where he remained for two years. He was then transferred to Wellington in a similar capacity, said Mr Lightfoot. His next change was Auckland, before coming to Dunedin, where he had been for 14 years —nearly half the period he had been with the department. His experience had been unique in that, except for two short occasions, he had never been under a “ boss ” ins service 41 My relations with the Dunedin staff have been most happy, concluded Mr Lightfoot. who thanked the officers for their present, which would serve to be a happy reminder of his association with the department.