A VETERAN C.T.A. SECRETARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18898, 26 June 1923, Page 4

A VETERAN C.T.A. SECRETARY

TRIBUTE TO A DUNEDINTTE. The Australian Travellers publishes the following tribute to a well-known Dunedin figure:— Hundreds of travellers, not only in Now Zealand, but throughout Australia, will hoar with regretful interest; that Mr Janies Brown, (lie highly esteemed secretary of the Otago Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen's Association, whose comfortable headquarters in Dunedin have been a haven of rest to many a visiting traveller, has decided to retire from the position after 27 faithful and successful years’ service in that capacity. As a matter of fact, Mr Brown’s resignation was tendered years ago, and has been in the committee’s hands ever since, but they declined to accept it; so Mr Brown continued to act as long as h& felt he could possibly do so in the interests of the association. Ho arrived at the conclusion recently that it was really necessary, in the joint interests of the association and himself, that he should now sever the old official connection, which had been so dear to him, in view of. the pressure of years and the numerous other important commercial interests with which lie has been so long identified in Now Zealand. While realising that our Dunedin friends will be the chief ones to feel the full effects of Mr Brown’s retirement, there are a host of friends in Australia who cannot allow the event to pass unnoticed. For many years the New Zealand C.T. and W.A. (now the Otago C.T. and W.A.) of Dunedin was a staunch and esteemed member of the United C.T.A. of Australasia, and was represented at its annual conferences, no fewer than three of which were hold in Dunedin (the last in 1913). At those gatherings, and at all times during the year, •lames Brown was a tower of strength. With a keen and trained intelligence, great commercial experience, and a big heart, his counsel was always helpful and valuable. Cue of Ihe greatest wrenches to Australian C.I.A. men, when the inovilablo separation took place between Iho C.T.A. organisations of the two dominions, was the parting officially with James Brown. Apart from his eloquence and logic in debate, he is in private a delightful companion and sterling triend. It is indeed a blessed consolation (hat wo are not writing “Jimmy’s” epitaph; but, on the contrary, look forward to meeting him again on this earth for mony a crack” over old C.T.A. times.