RETIRING OFFICER

Northern Advocate, 13 June 1931, Page 3

RETIRING OFFICER

MR ST. J. A. WHITE FAREWELLED LOSS TO DEPARTMENT AND TOWN. Yesterday afternoon, there, was a representative gathering of over SO persons, employed in the various Government departments housed in the Public Trust building, to farewell Mr St. J. A. White, chief clerk of the Public Works Department in. Whangarei, who is retiring after 37 years of service. Many expressions of regret at Mr White's retirement were voiced, and the making ,of a presentation showed how much ho was held in esteem by the other staffs.

Mr J. McEnnis presided at the function. Among those present were the Mayor (Mr W. Jones) and representatives of the County Council and Harbour Board.

Mr McEnnis said it gave him great pleasure to preside at the function, as he had known Mr White for 30 years, and more intimately since he had been chief clerk in tho Whangarei office. Mr White had had a great deal of experience and had been of considerable assistance to the department ,in carrying out its work. During the seven years Mr White had been in the Whangarei office he had been very helpful to all the staff and also to the public. He had always assisted well in getting the work through and had invariably been tactful, and helpful to the younger members of the staff. Mr McEnnis hoped /: that Mr White would have stayed on for a year or two more, but that was not to be. He extended to Mr White beet wishes, on behalf of the speaker and the staff, and also to Mrs White, in their new sphere of life in well-earned retirement. Mr McEnnis expressed also, on behalf of the staff, the sincere regret that Mr White was leaving the service.

Mr McEnnis asked Mr White to accept from the staff a pocket wallet, as a mark of appreciation., Ho also took the opportunity to introduce Mr Y. C. Curtis, who had 1 taken Mr White's place.

His Worship the Mayor; expressed his gratification at being invited to come and say au revoir to Mr White. He supposed that he could say with all modesty that he had had more to do with the Public Works Department than most men, especially during his term as county chairman, and he could assert that he had received noth- - ing but the greatest courtesy from the department. The staff of the depart-, ment had a difficult task, especially now, in view of the economic conditions -prevailing. Mr White had ■ always been kind, tactful and courteous, and any one who had dealt with him would bear this statement out. The Mayor was sure he was voicing the sentiments of all in expressing the sincere wish that Mr White’s new phase of life would be pleasant and profitable. They regretted losing Mr White, but he might come back to Whangarei on some future occasion.

•Mr Jones also extended a hearty welcome to Mr Curtis, aud hoped his time in Whangarei' would be a pleasant one. ,

Mr G;. H. Morrisli, as au ex-Govern-ment official, said he had pleasure in adding his quota of congratulations to Mr White on attaining tho age which released him from the trials and tribu. laticns of work. To himself (Mr Morrish), it was a considerable break to leave the Government service,- but at the same time the atmosphere of freedom was delightful. No where else than in Whangarei was more courtesy extended by public servants, and Mr White was' tile embodiment of courtesy. It. was a pleasure to deal with him. The speaker extended best wishes to Mr White, and, should he return to Whangarei, Mr Morrisli would be one of the first to welcome him back.,

Mr H. C. Hemphill, on behalf of the staff of the Whangarei County Council, also extended best wishes, and regretted, that Mr White was leav-

sng- , Mr W. Fraser apologised for the absence of the chairman, of the Harbour Board, Mr J. A. Pinlayson, and also added his best wishes for Mr White's future life. Mr McGregor, Inspector of Machinery at Whangaroi, added his regrets | that Mr White was leaving. Mr Curtis thanked those speakers , who had welcomed him to Whangarei. He was sure he would like his period in the locality. Mr White, in hie reply, thanked the various speakers for their kind .remarks,'and also for the valuable present given him. He said he had been in the Public Service for 37 years, but he had been doing clerical work for 45 rears, and he thought the time had

conic for him to lay down the 1 pen. One of the reasons for his going to Norfolk Island was that he etill had some of the British migratory spirit. When he was 14 years of age he sailed before the mast to the United states, and there left his ship. He had to dodge the “old man,” who chased him about the elevated railroads of New York City, but he stayed 'u America- for two or three years. He was not sorry, however, when he received a letter from his father saying it was about time he came home* In 1894 he came to New Zealand and had been here ever since. He Joined the service in 1895, and after a break, when he ran a general store in the Nelson district, rejoined in 1901, and after various changes waa

appointed chief clerk at Whangarei in 1924. Out of his 37 years’ service he could say that none had been as happy as his seven years’ period in Whangarci, and he had never had more pleasant associations with public bodies than in this town. He had' received the utmost courtesy. . There were certain people whom one could not be anything else but courteous to Mr White personally thanked tiro staff for their groat help in his work and the loyal way in which they had carried out their duties. He again thanked all present, and also those responsible for the function. He wish-’ td them every sriecess. * An excellent afternoon tea was served during the proceedings. A vote of thanks was carried to Mr McEnnis for presiding.