MR A. E. SANDFORD

Feilding Star, Volume 8, Issue 2505, 19 March 1930, Page 6

MR A. E. SANDFORD

IAKEWELL LAST NIGHT lit SINKS* MEN AND C KICK ETEH.S PR MA DE -Mr A. E. Saudfard was the yuest at », suuial gatherjug at Whitehead's n-oems 'last evening, when members oi the Chamber of Commerce, the Civic Club, and cricketers entertained him at a farewell. The Mayor, Mr C. E. Taylor, presided, and there were close on 50 -present. Mr 1 >. B. jcwuidfoi'd was a welcome guest with his father. Apologies were received from the Hon J. G. Cabba, Messrs S. At. Hobbs, \V. IS. Carthew, H. Melntyre. K. Hassell, E. Goodlreliero, N. C. Harding, F. J. Mann, and N. E. Gifford. With the Mayor aud the .guests at the head of the table were Messrs A. J. Humphreys (President of the Chamber of Commerce), J. S. Tingey .(President Civic Club) and V. E. Smith (President Cricket Association) Following the tea, THE MAYOR SPEAKS The Mayor said he was not t°<> happy in regard to the- social duties •of his office, but this gathering was one over which lie held it an honour and pleasure in presiding. On behalf of the gathering and himself, he heartily congratuJat :d Air Saudi ord on h.is promotion to the managership of liis bank at Hamilton. (Applause.) The Mayor had had 10 years’ observation of Air SandforcL’s work . as manager of the Feilding branch, and was .able to appreciate l - the projnotioiU which the bank had given him, for his work in Feilding had been conspicuously successful. . Applause). It ‘ was the- cust&in tliaf bank managers did not fake a prominent part Li public •affair, nut Mr Sa.ndlord was a worker for the public, his criticism of public niatt ers v as constructive, aud lie was ever ready. t° give a helping hand in civic affairs. Air Sandford liked public life, and had the bank permitted 4 would probably have offered his services on the Borough Council and possibly for Parliamentary honours for he was keen on public interests and the civic progress of tlio community. The Mayer referred t° All* Sandford’s activities in cricket, in the Progress League, the Civic Club, and the Library, and personally regretted bis departure. H? hoped A.l r hi id Airs 'Sandford would occasionally visit Feilding, and assured him they would receive a hearty welcome. Airs Sandford had been a-valuable worker whose services were highly appreciated. The Mayor was hopeful that Air Sandford would make further progress with his bank and would become manager in one of the four centres before retiring on superannuation to become Mayor of some borough. (Laughter and applause). AIR HUMPHREYS For the Chamber of Commerce, Air A. J. Humphreys (President) said it was a privilege- to represent the Chamber at this function in recognising a good citizen (Hear, hear). The Chamber had always found Mr Sandford a very useful critic and a valuable worker. The speaker thought he would vary the usual procedure of these occasions and say some bad things a,bout their guest* (Laughter). The first bad thing he knew about Air Sandford was that lie was born in Australia.. That was a very bad thing (Laughter). The speaker himself was ,ah Australian, and therefore would not dwell on that aspect of Air Sand ford’s life (Laughter.) r JBho next had thing about the guest was that lie was a bank manager. (Laughter). Rank managers were supposed to bo hard-hearted. (Laughter) —and conservative. But despite that expected bias, lie found Air Sandford was a liberal-minded man with a soft heart (Applause). The third and worst thing about Mr Sandford was that lie was going away. (Hear, hear). Bank managers were like Methodist ministers, they knew they were not making-the t o_vv 'ii their

abiding place. Mr Saiiclford liad show limuch civic jjatriotisin* during his residence in Feilding, knowing all the time he would not stay here permanently. He would probably have regrets at leaving Feilding, and the pebpi’e here w(ouldi H_ertaJVily ‘have grater regrets at losing him (Applause). i\LR TING FT Mr J. S. Tingey -President ot the Civic Club expressed the members’ regret at losing such a, xiroinincut and likeable member of the Club. Mr Sand ford wa-s an original member of the Club Committee, an early President, aud had on. several occasions addressed the Club. Tins members of the Civic Club were delighted to honour their guest, who! had filled so many public offices in Feilding—Chamber of Commerce, Progress League, Polo Club, Motor Club, Musical Union, Library Committee. Air Sandford had been veil seconded in his public activities by Mrs Sandford, whose enthusiasm had greatly helped in the large imp rov qtmeints made at the Lytton Street School. (Api-ilause). The members of the Civic Club were happy to join, in this farewell function and express of Mr Sandford’s ]jublic services and liis flue citizenship. (Applause). The wished Mr and Airs Sandford every hapxnness in fhc -i- new sphere of activities. (Axjplause). MKi W. H. McLEAN Mr W. H. McLean, for the cricketers, said when lie came back to Feilding 10 years ago he felt li's ericke-ting days were done, buf he had ambition to help to provide a a cricket ground for the young players. He very soon heard of a. man named Sandford who he was told was keen on cricket- He soon met All* Sandford and it was not long before they were donkey deex> in cricket- Air McLean reminded the gathering that the late Mr Lethbridge and Mr John Cob be had dome- wonders in the early days for cricket in Feilding (Applause). Air McLean related the story °f th© Kowhai Park Committee —Messrs Sandford, ' Elliott, Hobbs. 11. Reed and himself. Air Sandford had been the guiding star, and they got good, help from the Borough Council in those days, and thus the cricketers gof, their Kowhai Park ground. Af r S-andfoi’d had played football, cricket a.ud goll and now there was one more .stage—the bowling green. (Laughter). Air Sandford was not ashamed when he got iiasf. senior cricket fo go down and play cricket with the juniors.

(Hear, hear). He con id go away with the feeling . that his work here was very much appreciated. (Hear, hear). Airs Sand ford’s work was also very greatly appreciated by the cricketers. They all wished then the very best of good luck. (Applause) MB SMITH Air V. E. Smith, President of the Cricket Association, was very pleased to have the opx>ortunity of saying a few words on behalf of cricketers in recognition of the excellent work done by All* and Airs Sandford. Not only in cricket had Air and Mrs Sandford done much work, but they had scarcely reached Feilding when they began to work for the good of t ho whole town. Air and Mrs Sam*ford had been largely instrumental in raising £IOOO for public improvements. ( Applaus*©.) Smith asked Air Sandford to impress on Airs Sandford the cricketers deep appreciation of her generous and long continued help on their behalf. As a slight token of appreciation tlie President of the Cricket Association asked Air Sandford to accept for Airs Sandford aud himself the gift placed before him. (Loud applause.) Air Smith hoped Mr and Airs Sandford would have a long and happy life, that they would he not out for many years to come—lie knew that Air Sandford could never b e stumped while he had the bank behind him. (Laughter aud applause.) The present comprised a beautiful crystal decanter and glasses on silver tray. AIR SANDFORD REPLIES All* Sandford said he would be only half a man if he were not much affected by this gathering He thanked the Mayor for presiding and the sxieakers for their very kind references to his wife. In all liis efforts in Feilding lie lmd his wife behind him. and a man who had liis wife in strong 'support would tackle anything. (Hear, hear.) Tracing the history of cricket since his arrival lien, Ali* Sandford related how he had got Hie support of the Borough Council, Die Jockey Club, and the generous hearted public, who had helped in getting Kowhai Park in order. The bazaar which the cricketers had organised had raised £4OO and anoTier good had come of that bazaar, for amongst the heli>ers there were Airs Sugden and Airs

1 Stalker it ■was a great thing" to lihv« introduced those two noble , women to public life. (Applause.) Reference was then made by the sneaker to the pleasure of getting boys to take up cricket, and his lively connection with the Alusical Union the Boosters' Club, and the Progress League. The latter league had developed into the; K.V.P. carnival, which had raised several hundreds of pounds, out of which the hockey lieuple the children’s playgrounds and Kowhai Park had received well over £2oo each. Air Sandford told some screamingly funny stories of his experiences in connection with some of tlies e carnivals*. lie had tho deepest feelings of friendship aud affection for the lieople of Feilding. H e had made lasting friends here, and had enjoyed very day of hi s life in this town. It had been the happiest time of his life. He had gone into public affairs here because lit* liked that kind of life. An old friend in Hamilton had written to him offering him a welcome and referring to his public activities here, saying evidently Air Sandford had very varied interests. Oi? e friend had remarked that he (Air Sandford) was not connected I with the Prohibition, movement. | ( Laughter.) Well i>erliaps not. but he would issue this challenge—lf a movement were started to discour- ! age the drinking of alcoholic liquors ; amongst girls and women, lie would jbe in it heart and soul. (Loud applause.) If Feilding were to begin such a campaign 100.000 parents in New Zealand would bless the name of Feilding. He thanked them all profusely for their kindly references to Airs Sandford **nd himself, for their x>resence ot that gathering and for their goodness to him while he resided in Feilding He would now say goodbye and hoped he would meet them all in heaven. (Loud ax>plause.)

The company joiued in singing “Auld Lang Syne,*’ which brought a successful evening to a close. During the evening entertainment was provided by Alessrs T. Donaldson. J. H. Thompson. A. Kingston, and (i. Kilvington, with Air Thompson at the piano.