MR McVILLY HONOURED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 15 July 1925, Page 7

MR McVILLY HONOURED

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PRESENTATION FROM RAILWAY OFFICERS

l-'OKTy-nvL: yhaus of service

Many line tributes were paid to the work of Mr McVilly. late manager of tluv New Zealand Railways, at a large gathering of members of the Railway Officers’ Institute at Wellington, says the New Zealand Times. The function, which was a, welcome to conference, delegates, was also made the occasion of a presentation In' Mr McVilly. In the. chair was Mr L. At-kins, and others present were the Hon. W. Nosworthv, Messrs H. E. Holland, M. P. ; A. Beil, M.R.. F. J. Jones, H. 11. Stirling, and A. W. Mount, (members of (he Board of management).

!:i making the presentation Mr .(. Robertson, Dominion president., sai ( ] that they felt- that they could not let Mr McViJly leave the service without some mark of their respect, for his great service to the Department and to. (he staff. The speaker had known their guest for many years, and had found him fair

man who could be approached at any time, and when a man had a just grievance. he was always .sure of help from him. 0f course, lie had always the department to consider, and many times the speaker had heard him say. as Ms McVilly 1 say yes; but as general manager I say no. He had been a power of strength to the department, and in his 45 years of service lie had done 90 years of work. Amidst cheers Mr Robertson then handed to their late chief a- beauiitu! silver cake stand and a cigarette holder. GREATEST OR DEAL

'file cheers were renewed as Mr McVilly rose, to reply. ‘T have been through many ordeals,’ ’he said, "but this is the most difficult 1 have over faced.” He roferej to his dealings with the institute, and said that he- had always tried to do what was right and just. The conferences had dune much to make each undo realise, the. difficulties of the other, and had brought, the management in closer touch with those under them. He had been the first, secro tary of the institute, and went on to trace, its growth from the time in 1895 when it had a membership of 796 to the present day when the. number of mem hers was 24Q0. Of the members of the first executive only Mr A. Duncan and lie were. left. At” the first- council in 1895 tho chief subjects discussed were Gasification, political rights of civil ser vants (laughter), payment of Sunday duty, superannuation, extension of leave, and the appeal board.

A GREAT SERVICE The men who had been associated with the R. 0.1. from time to time had done great, service to the department, and liad helped to make the great railway service of the Dominion. In spite of criticism if, was a great service. Today they had 7000 miles of railway valued at’ £40,000,000. In accomplishing this the management lias had to face many difficulties, and sonic of these existed right up to the present time. r ! lie railway service offered plenty of scope to those, who wished to advoncc, and though lie, did not advise them to hitch their waggons to a- star lie urged I limn to fix their on the lop. If they as pired to rise they should not expect to get. a big job i.ti five minutes. They would have to pill up with being kicked and cursed from January Ist until December 31st.

HIS CRITICS REVIEWED

Speaking of criticism he said

“Everyone has a right to criticise, and 1 do not mind being criticised for things I have, been able to do. hut have not done, but when one is kicked, lied about, and slandered for what one has not been able to do by those who have prevented him —that is when iff hurts. I have always had the courage of saying what I think, and in sticking up for my convictions, and have always had had the courage to do the right thing when permitted. I have always tried to meet the staff fairly and squarely, atirliti guarding the department’s interests have tried to hold the scales with equal poise.

HAD TO REFUSE “I regret to say that I have on occasions had to refuse requests which T have not, been permitted to grant. As far as I know, however, no wrongs have been done, nor have any injustices been done, and whenever 1 have had toTleal with a, member of the staff I have endeavoured to temper justice with mercy. Sly door lias always been open to any man who had a grievance, and I have often been accused of wasting too, much time listening to grievances. No man who committed a wrong ever heard from rrfe a, second time if he did not commit that wrong again. In a service of 16,000 there must be discipline, but X have always tried to temper justice with mercy.” I,n conclusion, lie wished the institute every success and its members every prosperity. During the evening Mr McVilly, together with Mr C. Bolton, who had been president of the Wellington branch from 1898 to 1920, was made a life member of the insitute.

Messrs F. G. Craig, F. E. Hunt, and F. W. Aiekin were presented with badges which were a reward for three or more years’ service on the executive council.