A POPULAR BANKER

Evening Star, Issue 22798, 5 November 1937, Page 2

A POPULAR BANKER

Mft W. K. MUNSON FAREWELLED Nearly 100 business men of Oainaru assembled 4n the Star and Gartea Tea Booms to bid farewell to Mr W. K. Tomlinson, who for the past 13 years has occupied the position of manager of the Union Bank of Australia. During his sojourn in the town Mr Tomlinson has been a popular banker, and has held the esteem and friendship of business men and townsfolk generally. His services to the community were elaborated by the mayor (Mr M. P. E. Cooney), who said Mr Tomlinson was, a valued citizen, who had taken his full share in the activities of the borough. A staunch and enthusiastic worker, he would be greatly missed in the town. During the years of depression life for bank managers had not been a bed of roses, but Mr Tomlinson had always found time to help tho different organisations. Always courteous and helpful, he had indeed been a worthy citizen. Oamaru was losing, in Mr and Mrs Tomlinson, two of its finest citizens, who had won the confidence and respect of all. Concluding, Mr Cooney wished Mr and Mrs Tomlinson and Miss Tomlinson a happy future in their new home in Nelson.

Speaking fox - the clients of the bank, Mr C. Hedges said it was a pleasure t.o put on record his appreciation of the many kindnesses received from Mi Tomlinson, with whom he had been closely associated in business for 14 years, which had been among the most troublesome periods in the Dominion’s history. Oamaru clients had been very fortunate to have a man of the calibre of Mr Tomlinson, who possessed the full confidence of his head office. Mr Tomlinson was a fine citizen, an able banker, and a kindly and friendly gentleman, and he wished him and Mrs Tomlinson a happy retirement. Mr A. W. Woodward (for the Golf Club), Messsr A. Hamilton and J. T. Calder (Chamber of Commerce), Major H. S. Or bell (S.P.C.A.), Mr L. R. Jordan (Bank of New Zealand), Mr W. Kerr (National Bank), Messrs E. F. Armstrong and J. H. Treseder (St. Luke’s Church), and Mr D. H. Thomson also paid a tribute to the worth of Mr Tomlinson.

Mr F. Milner, for the Rotary Club, said he and Mr Tomlinson came from the same town —Nelson. If those present had known Mr Tomlinson’s people as he did they would know the fount of the qualities they so esteemed in Mr Tomlinson. He understood that the departing banker intended to have a mellow evening to his days, but proposed to widen his outlook still further by playing golf, which widened the vocabulary, and by angling, which widened the imagination. It was an extraordinary principle of bankers that those who borrowed most got the most credit. (Laughter.) He wished Mr and Mrs Tomlinson every success for the future.

The mayor then presented Mr Tomlinson with a well-filled inscribed wallet from friends in Oamaru, and the recipient made a suitable reply.