VALEDICTORY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18803, 5 March 1923, Page 8

VALEDICTORY.

PRESENTATIONS TO MR W. BOWLES. A representative gathering of all branches of the railway service was hold in the Dunedin station on I-kriday evening for the purpose of making a presentation to Mr W. Bowles, who lias been district traffic manager in Dunedin lor the pa.st eight years, and who altogether lias spout 43 years in the service of tho department. During that long period Mr Bowles has occupied positions in all parts of the dominion, practically from Auckland to the Bluff, and the cordial references that were made to his good qualities la-st evening showed to what an extent ho has gullied the esteem and admiration of his fellow officials. It was a very pleasant gathering—sincerity its keynote. Mr C. Benzoin, who occupied the chair, stated that in a groat and efficient system such as the railway service changes had to come slowly because the service was so large that any changes which were made bad a very far-reaching effect. That fact should be remembered by tire public when they clamoured for alterations and what they deemed to be improvements. The motto of tho department was the conservative ono, “festina lente,” and it might seem to some people that they haste-lied very slowly, but the changes that they themselves saw all around them wore tho changes in the staff itsell.' In that respect the railway servants were a wandering race over both islands; they were almost continually on the move and were always seeking new homes. Among these changes they found that they were losing their traffic manager, who had just completed 13 years of good and faithful service to the department, and who had earned rest from duties that were yearly becoming more arduous. Mr Bowles had done good work in the service, and in his own department he bad set a very high standard of efficiency. Ho had grown up with the service, it might almost be said, and -e, together with others who had done likevise, had brought the department up to its present slate of efficiency of which they were all so proud. Mr Bowles had always been actuated by tho most conscientious motives, and although lie was now leaving the department they knew that lie would be just as solicitous of its good name as in the past. The feelings of tho staff which he bad controlled for the last eight years in Dunedin were tho same, the speaker believed, as the feelings of every other staff that he had controlled, and lie left tho department with tho good wishes of all. In conclusion, Mr Benzoni said; “I have much pleasure in presenting you with a well-filled pocket wallet, and in wishing you and Mrs Bowies and your family long life and happiness in your new' homo in Auckland." —(Loud applause.) Mr IV. I. Hessoll said that ho had been associated with Mr Bowles for a period ..of 37 years, and during that time bo had found him a gentleman in every sense of the word. Ho was a man of high ideals, and he had applied these to himself in exactly the sumo way as he had applied them to others. They wished him every happiness in Iris retirement.—(Applause.) Mr H. West (chief clerk) read letters from Clinton and Invercargill, conveying good wishes to Mr Bowles, and on behalf of the local staff ho expressed deep regrot at parting with their “chief.” Ho carried with him into his retirement the best wishes of them all and a knowledge that ho had gained their respect.—(Applause.) Other speakers wiio paid warm tributes to Mr Bowles were Messrs H. Simons (station master), H. P. Hartland (representing the country stations), J. Taylor (locomotive foreman), Bray (district storekeeper), and Johnston (workshops branch). On tho call of the chairman three hearty cheers were given for the guest of the evening, followed by the singing of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” In returning thanks for the flattering remarks made concerning him, Mr Bowles said he valued their kindly feelings very much. The fact that ho had the goodwill of his brother officers was of great value to him,

and with t.lio presentation which had been made to him he- hoped to get something that would remind him of the many pleasant yeans ho had spent in the railway service in Dunedin. Hia relations with the staff here from the..beginning hud been practically unchanged, because he had always endeavoured to treat everyone in tho same way. It had always been hia object to gain the highest efficiency for the whole staff, and he thought he had gained that efficiency, which in the Dunedin district was second to non e in the dominion. In fact, in his opinion, the Dunedin staff was the best and most loyal in Now Zealand. Efficiency and initiative wer e synonymous terms. Ho remarked Dint he joined Die service as a cadet in Christchurch in 1878, and after filling various positions in the North and South Islands, lie had spent 10 years in Wellington during the time when the preparations were being made for taking over the Mannwatu lino and fertile opening of the Slain Trunk lino. The younger members of tho service did not knov tho conditions that had prevailed in years gone by, and at present the staff had a very good tune as compared with these who worked in tho early history of tho service. Hr Bowles recounted a number of anecdotes relating to his past service- in tho department, and with a view to showing the policy lie had always endeavoured to- adept. He specially emphasised tho fact that the safety of the public and courtesy to the public should be the guiding principles of all railway officers. Ho himself had endeavoured to hold the balance between the department and the staff-to the satisfaction of the public. In conclusion, he again thanked them for their gift, and said that at any time lie would be pleased to meet them when they visited Auckland. Mr Bowles will leave early next wee.k for Auckland, where he intends to take up hia residence. Representatives of the various Otago coal proprietaries paid a surprise visit to Hr W. Bowles, district traffic manager, yesterday afternoon for tho purpose of making him a presentation on his retirement from the railway service. Mr It. Le 2 made the presentation —a handsome smoker’s outfit, —and in doing so referred to tho very fair manner in which the coal companies had always been treated by Mr Bowles and to tho unfailing courtesy with which they had been received when desiring to make representations regarding railway facilities, etc. He expressed tho wish that Mr Bowles would be long spared to enjoy tho leisure of retirement. Mr G. 11. Cheeseman also eulogised the good work done by Mr Bowles. Mr Bowles, in reply, said that, naturally, he was very pleased to have such a. spontaneous recognition of bis services, and all the more so as it had been quite unexpected. Hs was glad to know that his work on behalf of tho Railway department had mot with their approbation, and ho thanked them also for the kind remarks they had made regarding his personal attributes.