Pay High Tributes To Retiring County Clerk

Northern Advocate, 19 April 1947, Page 5

Pay High Tributes To Retiring County Clerk

TRIBUTES to the efficiency, integrity and cooperative nature of the retiring Whangarei county clerk (Mr H. C. Hemphill) were paid at a farewell function arranged in his honour yesterday. Mr Hemphill, who was appointed county clerk in 1912, retired yesterday.

oer had had complete confluence *m iMr Hemphill and his ability. ! The county was losing a good ser- ! van! said the chairman of the North Auckland Power Board <Mr J. N. McCarroll). There was nothing that Mr | Hemphill would not do to forward the 'interest of the people. WORKED FOR PROGRESS He had had an excellent training, his father having been the original clerk to the Gtamatea County Council. The county had made great progress since Mr Hemphill had become clerk. He had also been instrumental in the amalgamation of Whangarei and OtaI matea counties with the old Hobson I Power Bpard. He had given outstanding assistance to the Returned Serl vices’ Association. , “I heartily endorse every expresI sion of goodwill," said Mr McCarroll i Appreciation of the cooperation and j assistance he had been given by Mr Hemphill during his term as town clerk was expressed by Mr L. O. Hall. “I first became acquainted with Mr Hemphill 2G years ago.” said Mr Hall. “He has left a pattern on the borough that will never be forgotten.” It had been a pleasure to bo associated with the retiring clerk, said the Public Works Department district engineer (Mr L. May). During his brief period in Whangarei, he had learned to appreciate and respect the advice and assistance of Mr Memphill. “In the days of the old roads —they were not roads, they were bogs—we had no money to spend and miles and miles of highways to look after,” said a former Otamatea County Council •engineer (Mr R. J. BafI). Mr Hemphill had done wonderful I work in his administrative capacity. Three former members of the council paid their respects to Mr Hemphill. ] They were Messrs F. G. McDonald and A. .T. H. Currie, who had represented the Kiripaka riding, and .1. 'J'. Walker, who had represented the Maungakaramca riding. Mr Currie had travelled from Auckland for the occasion. They expressed the opinion that the county would net have been in such a sound position if it had not been lor the efforts of the county clerk. Two present members —Crs P. Carter and R. Feaver —also eulogised Mr Hemphill’S services. Cr Carter said that he was sure the council had a sound man in Mr Hemphill’s successor, Mr G. H. Lloyd. Mr Lloyd paid tribute to the capable manner in which Mr Hemphill had handled the staff. On behalf of ttm staff, he extended best wishes. CONTRIBUTED TO PRODUCTION “We farmers are inclined to think that we are the sole people responsible for the production of the country, but there are others who contribute just as much,” said the chairman (Mr .* Morrison). “Probably no other man has done more to increase production through his efficiency with finance—the life's blood of any country—than Mr Hemphill.” Mr Hemphill’s elficiency and knowledge had left little to be desired. “Mr Hemphill has not only contributed .so much to the welfare of the country since he became clerk, but he has also served in the armed forces during three campaigns.” said the chairman. He had earned a welldeserved honour in being awarded the 0.8. E. He had great pleasure, on behalf of the council and its staff, in presenting Mr Hemphill with a wallet containing a sum of money. “I am pleased and honoured to sen old friends here.” said Mr Hemphill, in reply. “I thank you for the generous ._ over-generous remarks that have been made. RIDING ACCOUNTS With the aggressive nature of Mr Jones to guide the council, the countv had made the greatest progress it had ever known during the time that the Mayor was chairman, said Mr Hemphill. All road boards in the county had been abolished in 1921, and. although it had been quite a struggle to convince the people of Waipu that a road would be more profitable than a railway, the council had won through. “I think that today the people realise that the road was the right thing. “Mr Hemphill had long been the advocate of a scheme which should have been put into operation 20 years ago,” interjected the Mayor. “That is the abolition of riding accounts.” “I feel as sure today that you would be taking a step in the right direction if you abolished riding accounts,” said Mr Hemphill. It was wrong that one riding should be penalised by having to pay inlet . st on a loan raised for a road which wt universally used. It was right that, those loans should be spread over the whole county. Mr Hemphill also paid tribute to the work of two previous engineers, Messrs W. M. Fraser and J- Norris. “I do not know of any finer stall than we have today. I leave with the greatest content, knowing that Mr Lloyd is in control.” Mr Hemphill thanked the staff and council for their cooperation and the speakers for their remarks.

“I have found Mr Hemphill efficient, I trustworthy, reliable and truthful,” j said the Mayor (Mr W. Jones) who i was for eight years chairman of the I county council. “No man in this room I knows the character and characters- j tics of Mr Hemphill as I do. I wish to j thank him for his wonderful help. “There was not as much money about 30 years ago as there is today,” said Mr Jones, “but I think we were better off then. Today there is too much, but the local bodies cannot get hold of it.” As county clerk Mr Hemphill had carried out his duties with common- I sense. The high place which the. county held in the minds of the people was directly attributable to his work. J When the Maungakaramea loan had been raised only two people had voted j against it. ‘‘l have been looking for j those two ever since, but I am told i that they are dead,” said Mr Jones, j Mr Hemphill had always been willing to bring forward an idea which would benefit the people as a whole. He could look back with great pleasure at the assistance he had received from Mr Hemphill. j j : i i i i i i c 1 c ( c 1 c c ( i f 1

EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE When he had first met Mr Hemphill as a young member of the council, the first thing that had impressed him was the clerk’s extensive knowledge of local body affairs, said a former chairman (Mr J. A. S Mac Kay). He had consulted Mr Hemphill on a diversity of subjects and had never failed to get assistance and wise counsel. “There was a different atmosphere in the council in those days.” he said reminiscently. It had been a question of adopting a financial policy which would help the people to help themselves. “Mr Hemphill is a great believer in doing everything above board,” said Mr Mac Kay. During his term as chairman he thought that the council did not go into committee twice a year. “It was a great record,” remarked the speaker. “We took the people into our confidence.” He did not think he had ever had to call any member of the council to order. This had been due to the knowledge imparted to members by Mr Hemphill. “The council knew its job.” Only a few people realised what it meant to have a reliable county clerk and treasurer. Every mem-