Retiring Officials

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 227, 8 September 1936, Page 9

Retiring Officials

VALUED SERVICES Mr. J. S. McLeod and Mr. F. Perrin Honoured LUNCHEON FUNCTION Feeling reference to the valued services given by Mr J. S. McLeod and Mr F. Perrin, retiring president and secretary respectively of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce, was made by several speakers at the complimentaiy luncheon tendered them by the Chamber yesterday. Though they have retired from actual office, Mr McLeod and Mr Perrin intend to remain associated with the Chamber and its activities.

Mr H. W. C. Baird, president, presided, this being the hist occasion on which he had taken the chair at a gathering 01 the Chamber since he was elected to that office.

Among the apologies for absence were those ol Mr H. M. Campbell and Mr W. C. Whitlock. Reieinng to the latter, the chairman expressed regret that Mr W unlock aas not present, lor he too had been a wonderful stalwart to the Chamber but had slipped quietly away before an opportunity had presented itseit to them to give expression to the feeling of appreciation of his services.

“It is an honour to preside at a function such as this gathering of business interests ot our town,” said Mr Baird when making the presentation ot a case of pipes tq his predecessor. ‘‘Mr Mclieod. as president of the Chamber you have held the esteem of every memlier during your long term of office. Ten years is a big slice out of a busy man’s lif' - . but you have willingly given yout o ervice« and fulfilled most ably your position as our chairman.

“At the end of each financial year the members have looked forward to your speech on the trend of markets and the economic position generally, a..d you have invariably given us something ot great help,” said Mr Baird. “The company ot which you are the head has shown marked progress, and by that progress has helped very materially towards the prosperity of our town of Hastings, which is the centre of one of the most progressive districts in the Dominion. PRESENTATION TO GUEBTB. “We are glad to know that you will continue to take an interest in the activities of the Chamber, and we hope that you will be spared many years to help forward the good work. On behalf of the members of the Chamber I have pleasure in presenting to you this small gift, and I can only say, in the language of your forebears, ‘Lang may your lum reek’ (Long may your chimney smoke—may you live long), or perhaps in the more undeistandable language of the younger men present, ‘Kia Ora Taku, Ake! Ake! Akel’ " In making a presentation of a similar gift to Mr Perrin, Mr W. E. Bate, vice-president of the Chamber, said that Mr Perrin had been a friend to every member of the Chamber and had been an outstanding and prominent identity for a number of years in Hastings. “During the U years you were •ecretary, Mr Perrin, you filled that office with distinction and satisfaction,” said Mr Bate. “Blessed with a full abundance of those fine qualities, gentility and courtesy, you have been an entirely satisfactory seciefary for a long period, and you have carried out youi duties conscientiously. “You are one of Nature’s gentlemen and 1 assure you that in your retirement you carry with you the respect and esteem of the whole of the business community.” added Mr Bate. “This gathering to-day is a genuine compliment to you and to~Mr McLeod, and it is perhaps fitting that, having worked together, you should retire together. The business community would be the poorer had we not your assniances that you will continue to associate yourselves with the Chamber in the future.” MB HALLETT’S TRIBUTE. Endorsing the remarks of the previous speakers. Mr E. J. W Hallett referredgto the inestimable service ro the Chamber and to the community given by the guests-01-honour. who, he said were truly worthy of the honoui being done them The Chamber and the business community of the town had been fortunate in having such men

prepared to devote themselves to service a* had both Mr McLeod and Mr Perrin.

Referring to Mr McLeod, the speaker said that he had given the best of the time at his disposal to the Chamber. It had been a great honour’ when Mr McLeod had agreed to accept office as president, and by his assuming that office he had raised the standard ot the Chamber.

“Time after time our president has put the Chamber on the right lines and given it the benefit of his vast, experience and sound judgment,” said Mr Hallett. “He is not a man to express an opinion freely upon any subject with which he is not iuily conversant, and when he has expressed an opinion we have known that it i» a sound and valuable one.”

Expressing himself a® “flabbergasted” by the eulogistic remarks made concerning himself, Mr McLeod, in acknowledgment of the presentation, said that he was pleased that Mr Perrin was associated with him at the function, for he did not know what he would have done during his term of office without Mr Perrin. ESTEEM OF ASSOCIATES.

'lt is my opinion that it is the duty of every man that he should be an honour to his profession or to his occupation,” said Mr McLeod. “I have always sought to follow this principleand have preferred to gather the esteem of those with whom 1 am associated rather than seek popularity.” He regretted that times had changed somewhat in this respect, but he felt sure that there would he another change back to the old order, when integrity and trust would make a man the most thought of in the community.

“The Chamber can claim a very strong influence in the community,” said Mr McLeod, “and I hope that all of you present to-day will take an interest in the work of the Chamber During my term of office 1 cannot recall any proposal that was put forward being pondered without due consideration to the interests of the community at large.” Thanks for the very sincere compliments paid to him were also voiced by Mr Perrin, who said that he was particularly pleased that he had been associated with Mr McLeod, who bad always given him sound and good advice and help on all Chamber matters.