SERVICES APPRECIATED.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 12 November 1925, Page 5

SERVICES APPRECIATED.

MESSRS. SMITH AND MASTERS. EDUCATION BOARD’S TRIBUTE. ‘ ‘ That this board wishes to place on record its appreciation of tlie valuable services rendered in Parliament to the cause of education by its chairman, Mr. S. G., Smith, late member for Taranaki, and also by its previous chairman, Mr. R. Masters', late member for Stratford, and greatlv regrets the circumstances by which Parliament has been deprived of the experience and ability that these two gentlemen have been able to biing to bear in all matters making for the advancement of the cause and the efficiency of the policy of education, 5 wa.-, the text of a resolution adopted by the Taranaki Education Board at its meeting yesterday. In moving the resolution, Mr. Lees said that quite apart from the question of party politics, which did not enter into the matter, it would be admitted that both the gentlemen named had been responsible for a great deal of valuable work in advancing the cause of education in Taranaki and the Dominion generally, and he thought it was fitting that' appreciation of their services should be placed on record.- He emphasised that in being deprived of their experience and ability in the direct administration of affairs, tlie cause of education had suffered a distinct loss. Mr. Masters and Mr. Smith had further becn.qble, by their presence in Wellington, to be .of great service to the board in having effected by personal representation the solution of many matters upon which there may have been some doubt, ■' and so obviated considerable trouble and correspondence which might not have achieved results. Similar tributes were voiced by Mr. H. J. Eaves, who seconded the motion,, and by Mr. R. J. Deare and the Rev. J. L. A. Kavll, the latter further stressing that in all matters presented to Parliament on behalf of the board Mr. Smith had refrained- from the * expression of any parochial spirit, and had always advanced the high principles of the cause of education. Replying on behalf of Mr. Masters and himself, Mr. Smith thanked the board for the courteous manifestation of appreciation. He said that in doing whatever he had been able to carry out •—and ho felt sure he could say the same for Mr. • Masters —he had been guided by the duty ho owed in his official capacity to tlie children of the country, and he could review liis seven years of Parliamentary life without regrets. Neither did he entertain regrets con-, corning the result of the election, in which he had met defeat in a good fight, and in the cause of education or any other matter he was ready to serve Ms successor in the best manner possible. It was exceedingly kind of members of the board to remember him in such o manner, and it was also exceedingly pleasing to find so many, even among his political opponents, expressing similar sentiments. Such courtesies brought the realisation that there was something worth while in serving the public interests, and even in meeting political defeat, and he -was sure that when Mr. Masters heard of the kindly thoughts expressed by the members of the board he also would deeply appreciate their tribute..