NEW CHIEF POSTMASTER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIV, Issue 39, 14 January 1944, Page 4

NEW CHIEF POSTMASTER

Mil E. J. SMiIH APPOINTED. Mr W. J. Minogue, Chief Postaaster at Palmerston North, is to .ctire from the service on March 31 md will be succeeded by Mr E. J. smith, who has occupied the posi--ion of Deputy-chief Postmastoi ,inee his transfer from Wellington .ii October, 1 ( J40.

Mr Minogue, who will carry with aim into Iris retirement the best .vishes of numerous iriends in Palnijrston North and elsewhere, hat .died many positions in the service. A son of Mrs Minogue, of Main street, and the late Constable Patrick Minogue, he joined the department in Palmerston North as a message boy under the late Mr George nines in 1902. He served in various oranches and was a telegraphist when he went to the Great Was in 1916. He was with the Indian Army in Mesopotamia and Persia, anil later with the New Zealand Signallers on the Western Front and the Army of Occupation in Germany. Mr Minogue returned to New Zealand' in 1919 and was promoted to be supervisor at Feilding in 1920. Subsequently he served in turn as postmaster at Eketahuna, Waipawa, and Ashburton ; later he was DeputyChief Postmaster at Christchurch before proceeding to Napier as Chief Postmaster. From Napier Mr Minogue came to Palmerston North in March, 1941. In addition to his official duties he has taken an active interest in the E.P.S. organisation, the Chamber of Commerce, and other bodies. In his youuger days he played hockey and gained representative honours for Manawatu. He is now a devotee of golf and bowls. Mr Smith also has had an outstanding career in the service. Born at Waikouaiti (Otago), he commenced at the Dunedin Chief Post Office early in 1909. He was transferred to the Chief Post Office at Wellington in 1913, and following three years of active service in France "during the Great War he was " appointed to the position of investigating officer of the Wellington Chief Post Office. Promotion came when he was appointed supervisor of the staff division, General Post Office, and later further promotion in the postal division. Mr Smith was author and producer of the Pageant of Progress at the Centennial Exhibition and was appointed manager of the Post and Telegraph pavilions at the Exhibition. When the Exhibition closed he was promoted to senior supervisor of the postal division of the General Post Office, and in October, 19-10, transferred to Palmerston North as Deputy-Chief Postmaster. Mr Smith was the recipient in 1935 of the Coronation Medal for public services rendered. He was on the executive of the Dominion Advisory Board of Children's Health Camps and on the executive of the Wellington Social Service Board. School and church activities have also benefited by his work, as also have dramatic societies in Wellington and Palmerston North. When in Wellington Mr Smith's services were constantly in demand for the producing of coronation ceremonies.

Another change in the Palmerston North Post Office on March 31 will be the retirement of Mr J. W. Velvin, chief accountant. He has had 43 years' service at Gore (where he joined the department), Chri«tchurch, Invercargill. Auckland, Christchurch again, Hawera and Palmerston North. It was in 1937 that Mr Velvin came to the city. His activities in social life include bowling and singing. He has been a president of the Manawatu Bowling Club and is vice-president of trw Palmerston North Vocal Art Society. Mr J. Toner, accountant at the Timaru Post Office, succeeds him.