SECRETARY OF LABOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20876, 16 November 1929, Page 11

SECRETARY OF LABOUR.

MR F, W. T. ROWLEY’S RETIREMENT. A STAFF PRESENTATION'. { Special to Dailt Times.) WELLINGTON, November Iff. There was a large and representative gathering of the staffs of the head office and district office of the Department of Labour in the main room this afternoon when the officers of the department met to make a presentation to Mr F. W T. Rowley, 1.5.0., Secretary of Labour, who is retiring on superannuation at the end of this month. Following afternoon tea Mr N. W. Newton (Deputy Chief Inspector of Factories) said that Mr Rowley had joined the department almost when the future of the depart ment was quite uncertain. Commencing as a clerk Mr Rowley had become accountant, chief clerk, inspector of factories, deputy-chief inspector of factories and finally Secretary of Labour and at the same time registrar of industrial unions, chief inspector of scaffolding, registrar of apprentices and chief inspector of 'weights and measures. After briefly reviewing the growth of the department during Mr Rowley’s term of office and making eulogistic references to Mr Edward Tregear, 1.5.0., and Mr ■I. Lomas, both of whom were still living, Mr Newton asked Mr Rowley to accept on behalf of the cflicers of the department in New Zealand a handsome oak writing desk and bookcase combined. Mr Newton also presented ■Mrs Rowley with a pearl necklet and Miss Marjorie Rowley with a tortoiseshell clock. Mr Rowley stressed the difficulties that faced the Secretary of Labour. On 'the one side stood the workers, highly organised and efficiently led, while oil the other side stood the employers. equally well organised and just as ably led. Betwen the two highly contend ing groups the department had to take its. stand and endeavour, while carrying out the law, to be fair, impartial and just in all its dealings. The head of the department was responsible for its policy, and looking back over a period of Iff years during which he had directed the fortunes of the department, he could find no occasion on which lie would have acted differently in similar circumstances, Mr Rowley concluded by assuring his officers that while he felt keenly the breaking of the ties that hound him to the Department, be nevertheless was looking forward to a time when he could devote his attentions to various aspects of social and economic life to which he had given a considerable amount of thought. He intended to develop certain ideas he held concerning some of New Zealand’s problems, unemployment in particular, and he would publish his views later In conclusion he thanked the staff for the presents to himself and family and for their kindness to him. He assured them that he would put the writing desk to excellent use in bis future activities, and it would servo as a constant reminder of his official days, if such was necessary.