Tributes Paid to Late Mr. F. J. Nathan

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 62, 15 March 1938, Page 2

Tributes Paid to Late Mr. F. J. Nathan

ROTARY CLUB EULOGY “He was a past president of the Palmerston North Rotary Club, who gave wholehearted service to the community,” said the president ((Mr. A. A. Langley) when moving a motion of condolence with the relatives of the late Mr. F. J. Nathan at the meeting of the Rotary Club yesterday. Mr. Langley called upon the past-presidents present to add their tributes to the memory of a fine man. Mr. B. J. Jacobs: If it had nofr been for the leadership of Mr. Nathan in the early days 1 am sure that there would have been no club in Palmerston North. We have lost a good member and the community a wonderful personality. Mr. Nathan had been a. good stayer, said Mr .J. Murray. There had, no doubt, been a time w T hen his interest in the club had been strained, but he had stuck to it. Courageous enough to take fellow members to task when necessary, his memory would be a very gracious one to the club. During his term of office he had found Mr. Nathan a very staunch and helpful friend, Mr. W. G. Black said. He remembered the deceased gentleman best for his wise counsel and fearless criticism. He had rendered great service to Rotary. “Every member of this club must feel a deep sympathy with the relatives of Mr. Nathan and his many services will long be remembered,” said Mr. W. E. Winks. Mr. W. S. Carter said he could only endorse the statements of previous speakers. Mr. Nathan had the courage of his convictions and, undoubtedly, ho had the good of Rotary at heart. Mr. Nathan would be sadly missed by all. Mr. G. G. Priest; I had every encouragement from Mr. Nathan during my term of office. Mr. Nathan earned the thanks of the club for having maintained a state of friendship between it and a number in Australia. He has left behind him a chance for all younger men to prove themselves stayers. The motion was carried in the usual manner. CITY COUNCIL’S TRIBUTE Tribute to what the late Mr. F. J. Nathan had done for Palmerston North was paid last night by the Palmerston North City Council, which, on the motion of the Mayor, placed on record appreciation of his services, particularly as a councillor from 1911 to 1915 and as Mayor from 1923-27, and decided to forward a letter to the widow and family conveying the sympathy of the council and citizens with them in their bereavement. The Mayor said the late Mr. Nathan had been a worthy and prominent citizen of Palmerston North and had had a great deal to do with its progress and prosperity. During his earlier life ho showed confidence and foresight as regards farming land, and throughout his life he had rendered valuable assistance to the community. He had filled many public offices and generally had carried out the ideal of what a man owed to the city in which he lived and to his fellow-men. In Massey College there stood a monument to his foresight and work. He had carried out the duties of Mayor with dignity, honour and credit to himself and the city. Cr. J. Hodgens, M.P., said he owed a debt to Mr. Nathan for many kindnesses during his occupancy of thq mayoral chair. In regard to Massey College, his aim had been that Palmerston. North should be made a university city. The speaker revered his memory as a gentleman. Associating himself with the tribute, the deputy-Mayor, Cr. G. Tremaine, said that although he had not sat at the council table with Mr. Nathan, he knew what that gentleman had done to inculcate a spirit of civic pride in the people of Palmerston North. The Mayor’s motion was carried in silence, all present standing.