A VALUED OFFICER

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11436, 5 February 1923, Page 5

A VALUED OFFICER

MR M. C. BARNETT RETIREMENT OF ASSISTANT PUBLIC TRUSTEE. ADIEUS AND PRESENTATION. ■Mr M. C. Barnett (Assistant Public Trustee), who retired last week on superannuation, was officially farewelled at the Public Trust Office on Saturday. morning. Mr J. W. Macdonald (Public Trustee) presided over a largo gathering of' officers of the department, and among those present were Miss Barnett (sister of the Assistant Public Trustee), the Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister-in-Charge of the Department, and the members of the Public Trust Investment Board. Mr Macdonald said that the officers of the department felt that they could not let the occasion of Mr Barnett’s retirement pass without expressing in some tangible way their appreciation ol their respect for. him, and therefore they had asked the Minister to mako a small presentation to him on their behalf. (Applause.) He thanked the Minister for being present for that purpose at some inconvenience to himself. (Applause.) SPEECH BY MINISTER. In making the presentation the Hon. J. G. Cbates said that the department and the Government recognised that in Sir Barnett then- were were losing a most valuable officer, a man who had had a great deal to do with building up the Public Trust Office to what was possibly—there were none there to contradict him, at all events —one of the best State services in existence. (Laughter and applause.) He understood that Mr Barnett was leaving the service and going Home to England, and he was sure that he would carry with him the very best wishes of the officers of the department, whether in Wellington or elsewhere. He knew that, apart from his official capacity, Mr Barnett had. made many friends in New' Zealand, especially in Canterbury, where he was district manager for so many years. Mr Barnett entered the public service in January, 1883. joining the staff of the Property Tax Department, and in 1893 he joined the Public Trust Office in which he had remained ever since. During his thirty 'years’ service with the department he nad served with six Public Trustees, and had acted as examiner, accountant, district manager, chief accountant, chief inspector, and Assistant Public Trustee. Those who had to follow in Mr Barnett’s footsteps would have a hard row to roe; hut he believed that they would carry out their duties with credit to themselves and to the office. (Applause.) He had muoh pleasure, on behalf of the officers of the department, in presenting Mr Barnett with a chesterfield and a gramophone and records, as some slight token of their regard and esteem. (Applauße.) He wanted on behalf of the Government to say how much it appreciated Mr Barnett’s services and assistance. (Applause.) The Government recognised that Mr (Barnett had been one of the builders of the institution, which was a very fine one and one that everybody should l be very proud of belonging’to. (Applause.) He carried away with him the good opinion of every .officer in' the department, and especially had! he the goodwill of all the Governments tfiat had had anything to do with the office. (Applause.) He wished Mr Barnett long life and a pleasant tour wherever he might go, and assure him that he would always have a hearty welcome back from every member of the Public Trust Office. (Loud applause.) PUBLIC TRUSTEE’S TRIBUTE. Mr Macdonald (Public Trustee) associated himself with everything that the Minister had said concerning Mr Barnett, his life-work in the office, and the assiduity with which he had always applied himself to promoting the interests of the Public Trust Office. (Applause.) On behalf of all the Public Trustees who had been in office ho thanked! Mr Barnett for his services to the department, and expressed their high appreciation of hi® efforts. Personally, he thanked him for his consistent and loyal co-operation with him. (Applause.) Without such loyalty no institution could function properly, and no officer could obtain any real or permanent success in that or any other department, (Applause.) He thought that Mr Barnett’s manner of retiring waa worthy of the man. He had come to him (Mr Macdonald) and said he thought that he was blocking the way of promotion to the junior officers, and on that account and because he desired to travel, he wished to retire. (Loud applause.) "A MAGNIFICENT INSTITUTION.”

Mr Barnett suitably and feelingly responded. He could not, he said, have done whatever he had been able to do for the Public Trust Office without the loytil co-operation of hi® colleagues. That great public institution would go on and increase and become a great, ppwer in the land. (Applause.) It was in good hands, well governed, and well organised) and he thought that given caution and. thoroughness its future was assured. (Applause.) He did not like giving up his work, and would always take the greatest interest in the welfare and! progress of the office. To the young men and young ladies in the office ho would say that they had all the best of it. They were being trained in a magnificent institution, and the young men were educated for a career m life andi could take up many professions in the deportment; and c n that account they owed a duty to the department, and must give of their best to it. (Applause.) Of course, the offioe 'had got a trying time before it. It had suffered in the slump with some of its investments. But it had not done so badly; and, with tho recovery in the prices of produce, might dp better still. (Applause.) He assured them that their esteem and regard were reciprocated. His heart was very full, and he would always treasure the remembranoe of his relations with the office. It was . a great wrench to have to part with them all, and he thanked them from the bottom of his heart for the kindly feelings evinced towards him. He bade them an official farewell ' with great regret. (Loud and long-sustain-ed applause.) . On the call of Mr Maodonald three •hearty cheers were given for Mr Barnett and three more for Miss Barnett, followed by the singing of ‘‘For they are Jolly Good Fellows.”