STAFF FAREWELLS REGISTRAR: MAORI DEPARTMENT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22916, 7 April 1949, Page 6

STAFF FAREWELLS REGISTRAR: MAORI DEPARTMENT

Expressions of goodwill and appreciation were tendered to Mr. R. J. Thompson. retiring registrar of the Maori Land Court in Gisborne, at a staff gathering held this week on the eve of his severence of his 34-year connection with the Department of Maori Affairs. The gathering, which was held in the Maori Land Court room and was presided over by Judge H. Carr, comprised about 80 members of the Gisborne district staff and some 25 visitors, including represenatives from the head office of the department in Wellington, the Wellington district office, and the Auckland and Rotorua staffs.

Judge Carr referred with deep regret to the prospect of Mr. Thompson’s departure, and wished him personally and on behalf of his fellow workers in the department in Gisborne many happy years to enjoy his retirement. The happy relations which had marked their work together constituted a tribute in itself to Mr. Thompson's gift of tempering the requirements of departmental efficiency with a kindly regard for the individual officers’ welfare. and in his 15 years as registrar at Gisborne he had made a host of friends, said the chairman, in presenting to Mr. Thompson a fireside chair and a handsome tea service as a gift for Mrs. Thompson, who also was present. Mrs. Thompson was tendered also a personal tribute in the form of a bouquet, presented by Miss B. Ogier on behalf of lady members of the staff.

Judge A. A. Whitehead, Mr. Norman Smith, deputy Maori Trustee and the personal representative of the Undersecretary, Mr. T. T. Ropiha, Mr. K. G. Runciman. Mr. W. Amaru, and Mr. Peta Komaru also added tributes to Mr. Thompson, who said that the expressions of goodwill offered him made the occasion less painful than it might have been

He remarked that he had always had the utmost co-operation from his superior and fellow-workers in the department, and that though retirement had many attractions they did not for the moment outweigh the loss of daily and intimate contact with his old colleagues. Opportunity was taken also by the gathering to farewell Mr. C. Hart, field supervisor at Te Araroa, who, too, is retiring, and Mr. Eric Smith, a member of the Gisborne staff of the Maori Affairs Department who is transferring to the State Fire Office. Mrs. Hart, who was present at the, gathering, received a presentation of a bouquet. • Mr. Thompson's successor in the post of registrar at Gisborne has not yet been nominated.