RAILWAY SOCIAL

Grey River Argus, 20 December 1940, Page 21 (Supplement)

RAILWAY SOCIAL

Four of Staff Farewelled There was a large gathering held in Herb Moore’s Tea Rooms on Tuesday evening, ■by the Social Committee of the Railway Workshops, to farewell four members of the staff who were leaving the district. Mr T. Oxenham, who presided, sam in his opening address that the gathering had been called to do honour to four of the wor..o.iops staff who were leaving, namely, Mr Black, who had retired after the completion of 40 years’ service in the Railway, and who had been the sub-Foreman of the local workshops for the past 18 years; Mr F. H. Stanton, who had retired in order to join the staff of a private firm in Christchurch, and who had for the past twenty years been a boilermaker at the Greymouth workshops, as well as a staunch unionist, having had a term as delegate to the N.Z.T.A., and oeen President of the Greymouth branch of the organisation; Mr Parlane, wno had been clerk at the local "workshops for the past two years, and who was to leave' on transfer to the Hutt workshops; and Mr Lawson, a new member of the Greymouth Workshops staff, who was going to join the Rojai New Zealand Air Force. The chairman toasted the xung and Royal Family. The toast of Mr Black was proposed by Mr Latimer, who detailed the services of the guest for the Department and other members of the staff also eulogised Mr Black’s services. Mr Latimer presented Mr Black with a fireside chair and a suitable gift for his wife, wishing him many years of life in which to enjoy his retirement.

Mr Black, in reply, thanked those who had made so many kind remarks about him. He had always tried to live up to an ideal—that of being fair and helpful to his work mates. --e had never told those under him to do something 'which he himself would not do. He could not wish for better comrades, as they helped him with every job for which he had asked for assistance. Again he thanked the speakers for their kind remarks and for the gifts to himself and Mrs Black. He thanked his co-workers for the good time he had had during his association with them.

Mr W. ■H. Parfitt, proposing the toast of the Department, thanked the social committee lor their invitation to be present on the me,'it auspicious 'occasion. To the gentlemen going away he wished a long and happy life. He hoped that the next year would see much better conditions prevailing. He then gave a review of the progress of the Railway on the West <,oast. The Railway to-day was tne pulse of the West Coast but without the help of the staff ’it could not be. Referring to the successes of past stationmasters, Mr Parfit said he hoped that the present one, Mr G. D. Smart, would go further up the ladder, although caey would not like to lose him.

.Mr Torrance replied to the toast, saying that had it not been for the Railway Department the country would not have been as wen opened up as it was at the present lime. One of the latest rail-cars .in the woiad was being used on the West Coast, he said, showing the important part that the district played. Other speakers also replied on behalf of the Department.

The chairman introduced to the meeting Mr Showcrass, of England, who, having built the new rail-car, was on the West Coast supervising the running of it. Mr W. Williams proposed the health of Mr Stanton, saying that he was the most-known man in the workshops, and Greymouth Branch of the Railways, having been the life of the workshops and been always (■h everything;. He (expressed the opinion that Mr Stanton would do well in his new undertaking. His leaving, however, would be a real loss to the Railway workshops and to his workmates. Mr McGirr said he was very pleased to be allowed to say a few words at the departure of his friend and workmate, and he wished Mr Stanton every success in his new position. He had been a good worker, and they wished him the best of luck. Eulogistic reference to Mr Stanton’s character was made by several other speakers. Mr Black said" that it was a great honour to be asked to make a presentation to one of his workmates, Mr Stanton, more intimately known to his many friends as “Smacker.” He was one of the best, and 'when he was away the shop was dead. He was good hearted, and popular, and they were sorry he was leaving, as he was always in and doing something. On behalf of his* workmates he presented Mr Stanton with an arm chair, hoping to hear of his successes in his new position, and that he would always remember the boys at Greymouth.

Mr Shuker presented Mr Stanton with lihe RI.T.A. pas't-Presidfent’s badge, saying that there had been no predecessor so lucky as to have his badge presented amidst siuch clbngenial . surroundings, or any previous one had been so deserving.. He wished Mr Stanton the best of luck in his business venture.

Mr Stanton said he had always endeavoured to please everyone in his work and he related several amusing incidents in hi s career. He had jheen 20 years in the workshops and he had made no enemies. He had always done his best. He thanked the speakers for their kind remarks. Mr Leeming, in proposing the toast of Mr A. Parlane, said that he had been associated with him before coming to Greymouth. He had found him alwavs pleasant, courteous and obliging in his work,, and he was known as a man amongst men. Mr Parlane would not however, find the same freedom at Wellington as at Greymouth, but' he wished him every success.

Mr Latimer expressed his sorrow at the departure of Mr Parlane. He had never experienced any trouble during ■ his association with Mr Par- : lane; and had always found the of-, flee work well done. He had been most obliging and had helped him out many times. He wished Mr Parlane the best of luck. Other speakers joined in wishing Mr Parlane the best of luck. -

Mr Leeming presented Mr Parlane with a suitcase as a token of his felJow workers’ esteem. Mr Parlane said that he felt that any words of his were quite inadequate to express his feelings. He was more than pleased at the presentation and he would think of his work-

mates at Greymouth whenever he looked at it. He was very sorry he was leaving, as he was not looking forward to going to Hutt. He thanked the speakers for their kind expressions.

The Stationmaster, Mr G. D. Smart, thanked the organisers for giving him an opportunity of joining in the farewell to the members of the workshops staff. It was pleasing to hear the expressions of goodwill. He nad a toast that was very important, to propose, being that of the Railwaymen serving with the armed forces. He was very pleased to ■ propose that toast. Mr Lawson would in a few days be leaving to join the Air Force and he assured him that ,in his absence, there would be many willing to support those overseas. They would not be let down. The Railway Department had had serious loss of skilled men who had enlisted for overseas. He was sure that when he was away their guest would carry the good wishes of his workmates with him, and he wished him the best of luck. Other members of the staff referred to Mr Lawson’s fine work.

Mr O’Donnell presented Mr Lawson with a money-belt and a wristlet watch on behalf of his workmates. Mr Lawson said that he was glad to receive the gifts, although he was so.rry to leave Greymouth, where he had made numerous friends. He hoped that when Hitler had “finished mucking around” he would come back to Greymouth. He thanked his workmates for their many kindnesses to him.

Mr McGirr .proposed the toast of “ex-Railway Servants.” Messrs D. Cameron, .F. Pullen, J. Keith and G. Morrison responded. The toast *to the Press was proposed by Mr J'as. Duffy. During the evening items were given by the following: Messrs D. McGill, J. Duffy, W. Coleman, E. Shawcrass. Mr. Paterson was the accompanist and Mr Coleman led the gathering in community singing. Messrs W. Williams (piano) and L. Abbey (violin) were accompanists.