A TRIBUTE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 251, 20 September 1933, Page 2

A TRIBUTE.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Knowing that a newspaper’s pleasantest duty is to give credit where it is due, may I pay a much overdue tribute to a civic officer whose equal in the matter under review is probably not met with in the Dominion. On the inauguration of No. 5 scheme in 1930, a small number of unemployed men were handed to the City Council foreman, Mr H. Kemp, for work. The number since then lias lisen to 1600. Few' people realise the burden thus placed on this highly efficient officer, in the handling of 1600 or so men weekly, in addition to the performance of his other numerous and important duties. For three years, practically the whole of his waking hours have been occupied in dealing with a thousand and one problems arising almost daily. He has never been known to turn down a genuine request, and the number of times he has gone very much out of his way to give assistance at considerable person discomfort and inconvenience could not be counted. Ho has had to suffer abuse and ridicule from the less deserving, and, in the main, very little encouragement from certain relief workers. • The work senJis him ftying through the borough in all sorts of weather in between times when he is bearing the strain entailed in the responsibility for the correct payment weekly of some £3OOO. His unfailing courtesy to all kinds of people under extremely trying conditions alone merits him the commendation of all people, and the City Council, to put it mildly, is lucky to possess such a capable and painstaking official. —I am, etc., BILLJIM.