A GRACEFUL TRIBUTE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10008, 27 June 1918, Page 6

A GRACEFUL TRIBUTE

TO MR R. FLETCHER, M.P.

HARBOUR BOARD MEMBERS’ SPLEM- . DID DULOQY.

A graceful tribute to the work of Mr B. Fietcher, 11.1’., during his connection with the Wellington Harbour Board, was made at last night's meeting by the chairman (Mr C. E. Danicll). Mr Daniel! said that for soma considerable time post ho had been endeavouring to induce Mr Fletcher to allow a photographic enlargement of himself to be hung in the board room, and at last he had attained his object. It was 124 years since Mr Fletcher took his "seat on the board, and his record all along had been a truly splendid one. Ho had oomo to the board with fixed ambitions in tho dnys'when members were not so democratic as they were to-day. His ideals wore not popular then, but he would not let go. What was tho result! 1 It was shown in the splendid condition of the board’s affairs to-day, not only on the business side but on the humanitarian side also. In this connection he mentioned tha board’s superannuation scheme. which was, only won through Mr Fletcher’s dogged perseverance. Ho also took a very prominent part in tho institution of the Appeal Board, which gave the employees an opportunity of ventilating their grievances in a fair and constitutional manner. Mr Fletcher had boon in tho midst of tho great dock failure, throughout which he showed great ability as a business man. That they were able to successfully wind up the dock business was to the lasting credit of Mr Fletcher.- It was greatly to ho regretted that Mr Fletcher had chosen the political calling, for the reason that local administration was,’ in tho opinion of tho speaker, his particular forte. They all intensely regretted Mr Fletcher’s illness, but his presence at tho meeting in tho circumstances testified to his extraordinary enthusiasm in connection with -harbour matters. Eulogistic reference to tnc work of Mr Fletcher was made also by Messrs J. W. McEvran, J. 6. Oobbe and M. Cohen '

Mr Fletcher warmly thanked members for all they had said about him. Since ho had been a member of the Wellington Harbour Board he had taken a groat deal of interest in harbour matters, lie bad been connected with the work of the board for thirty-four years in every capacity, and had grown up with the board. He referred to tho dock trouble, and said that although a dock was a neoosfiity for a place like Wellington the board should go along quietly and not go in for what it could not afford. If there was anything he felt promLof, it was his connection with the supcfMmuation scheme. He know for a. fact that tho scheme had proved a boon to many a man. On fho whole tho Wellington Harbour Board had done good work, and was the best employer south of the line. Ho hoped the board would go ahead and prosper in the years to come. "If I can not. be hero," concluded Mr Fletcher quietly and sincerely, "you will at least have my portrait.”