RECOGNITION OF SERVICES

Hawera Star, Volume L, 21 February 1931, Page 6

RECOGNITION OF SERVICES

MR, IV. 11. A TACK’S RETIREMENT. WORK FOR. PRESS ASSOCIATION. (By Telegraph — Press Association.) ’•-•ROTORUA, Fe'b. 19. Members of the United Press Association paid’ warm tributes to-day to the retiring manager'Mr W. IT. A tack, who recently relinquished active duty. A graceful compliment was paid him by the chairman, Mr E. Abbey Jones, who invited Mr Atack to read his own niinutes of the previous annual meeting. This’suggestion was cordially endorsed by the meeting and Mr Atack performed the formal duty. The presentation of' it substantial cheque fol-low-ed.

. At the conclusion of the meeting the chairman, Mr E. Abbey* Jones, said that his association with Air Attack extended over 25 years, and in humorous vein he related some of their encounters, illustrating (Mr Atack’s characteristic epistolatory style' and his determination that details should be carefully attended to. It was one of the association’s greatest assets that it had had as manager for so long a period one who was meticulously particular in regard to its affairs. ; He held his position by* ability, efficiency and fidelity*, and could’Carry into his retirement the f Confidence that he always had the respect of members. ’ > : Air P. Selig ’(Christchurch) said he had' been associated with Air Atack in journalism fifty*-years ago,"and’he related some reminiscences of their early* days! One had only* to come into close contact with the work of the Press Association office' to realise what a great organisation' the association was and how much it owed to the literary and business ability* of Air Atack. Mr A. AI. Burns (“Christchurch Press”)" said that his first experience bf Air Atack was when lie joined the Press Association staff as a cadet, remaining there for seventeen years and then removing to the “’Christchurch Press” as chief sub-editor. He felt that whatever success had attended him had been due to the thorough training which Air Atack had given him in the importance jif accuracy and method. Some of Air Atack’s famous letters were embalmed in various newspaper officers, but he carried into his retirement the affection arid esteem of the newspaper Press of the Dominion.

Air C. W. EarlO, on behalf of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association, said the outstanding characteristics of Mr Atack’s long service had been ability*, loyalty* and fidelity*. They were proud of the standard of their newspaper Press, and Air Atack had played a large part in creating that standard. His ideal had been the accurate, faithful a.nd prompt presentation of news. Members were so fully aware of his sterling worth that the little personal trait in his correspondence became a very minor matter.

Three ' cheers and musical honours v\erc accorded Mr Atack when he rose to respond. Tic thanked the chairman for the opportunity to read the minutes for the last time. He would not, like to have simply drifted out of the lives of members. ITc playfully accounted for his style of letter-writing by relating the anxieties of the board in 1887 when.it met in Auckland to hammer out, the cable regulations. He had been told that he would he the most unpopular fellow in New Zealand when they came to be carried out. He could say that nothing ho had ever written had been written in malice.

In the course of some reminiscent remarks Mr Atack said that ho had a vivid recollection of two outstanding events. The first was the day on which the Bank of New Zealand was goinoto close its doors and the second was the San Francisco earthquake. Of the first event he w r as informed on good authority, and he managed to get from the bank £IOO in gold. Cries of “Who for? ” Mr Atack: Half for me and half for the association. (Loud laughter). All that night he sat in the House of Representatives watching the passing of the legislation which saved the bank. In regard to the San Francisco earthquake, he had seen the ruins short, lv afterwards and he could not help being struck by the extraordinary duplication that had happened in ‘ Napier, though on a smaller scale. AfteT relating another story of a colleague who used to leave dynamite lying about his office, Mr Atack again thanked members for their generous gift and personal tributes.