SERVICE TO CITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22609, 28 June 1935, Page 10

SERVICE TO CITY

FORMER LOCAL BODY MEMBERS PRESENTATIONS FROM CITIZENS EXPRESSIONS OF GRATITUDE Appreciation of the service which Messrs J. J. Marlow and J. B. Shacklock. as members of the City Council, and Mr W E. S. Knight, as a member of the Otago Hospital Board, have given to the city •was tangibly expressed when presentations were made to them in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall last night. The chairman of the Citizens' Association (Mr W. R. Brugh) presided, and associated with him on the platform were repregentatives of a number of public bodies. In presenting bouquets to Mrs Marlow, Mrs Shacklock. and Mrs Knight, Mrs S. M. Park said that the guests of the evening had spent "little lifetimes'' in the service of the public, but their wives had played no little part in helping them in their arduoug duties. Two qualities that that were necessary in the wife of a publicman were patience and discretion. The recipients of the bouquets possessed those qualities in a high degree. MR MARLOWS LONG SERVICE In making a presentation to Mr Marlow, the chairman said that it was difficult m a short space of time to say all that one would like to say of a man who had spent 38 vears in civic life. Dunedm had been littie more than half-grown when Mr Marlow had become a councillor in South Dunedin. He had served also on the St. Kilda Council—on two occasions as Mayor —and for the last 25 years had occupied prominent positions in the city itself, acting as chairman of some of the committees of the council. That would seem to be enough for any man, but he had found time for other things. He was one of the foundation members of the Otago Expansion League, and had been actively

associated with friendly societies. He had been prominent in the Justices of the Peace Association, and had even devoted time to such sports as bowling, lawn tennis, and harriers. Surely that was a record of which any man might feel proud. Not only had he done these things, but he had also done them remarkably •well.—(Applause.) In the recent mayoral contest he had put up a clean and strenuous fight. He had lost, but he had done what everyone had expected and had taken his defeat like a true sport. The Citizens' Association, guided hv his example, had also taken defeat in the proper spirit. They would give to the Mayor the allegiance that was due to him. reserving the right of free and trenchant criticism. — (Laughter.) They <lid not regard Mr Marlow as going off the civic stage. He had the garnered wisdom and mature experience that came with the years, and there must be a place to which he was fitted. The presentation had come in a voluntary manner from all classes of citizens. Bond street had contributed and the widow's mite had helped to swell the fund. Mr Brugh handed to Mr Marlow a silver tea service and a cheque. RECORD OF MR SHACKLOCK Presenting Mr J. B. Shacklock with a clock mounted on a greenstone base, Mr J. H. F. Hamel said that if Mr Marlow had served the city for 38 years his. champion had beaten him by a year. Mr Shacklock was a member of the South Dunedin Council 38 years ago, and was Mayor of that borough in 1906. Somp eight years later he became Mayor of the city itself, and throughout the long period in 'which he had taken an active part in the public life of Dunedin his shrewd common sense had been dominant. There must also be a lot of fight in Mr Shacklock's character, said the speaker, because in the borough in which he had fir6t become prominent one had to be a

fighter to get anywhere. He was a dour, quiet fighter who made no ft-ss and did not ask for spotlights, but he was always "in at the death." There would be no citizen in Dunedin who would begrudge Mr Shaddock his retirement after such a long period of hard work, and he knew that he was voicing the sentiments of those citizens when he hoped that Mr Shacklock would be happy in his retirement. He also hoped, however, that Mr Shacklock would be ready with his wipp counsel whenever it was needed during these difficult times. It was questionable, concluded Mr Hamel, if he was as wise as he ought to be in retiring at the present time, but the decision was his own, and he would retire respected by all. PRESENTATION TO MR KNIGHT Dr W. Newlands, in presenting an old English clock and a cheque to Mr Knight, said that the recipient had not been for quite so long a citizen of Dunedin as had Messrs Shacklock and Marlow, but he had been associated with local body work in Tuapeka before coming to Dunedin. Afterwards he had retained tht faith of the country people, and had been thenrepresentative on the Hospita Board. Later he had ably represented the interests of the city. In tins work he had had the assistance and encouragement of Mrs Knight. Perhaps as chairman of the board he had not been so much in the limelight as the members of the Uty Council, but his work had been just as arduous, and he had displayed as great a devotion to duty as any other local body member in Dunedin. The board was sorry to part with him and would miss his long experience and knowledge of Hospital affairs. Schemes were on band wmcn

might make great changes m the Hospital service, and they would be glad of Mr Knight's advice in the problems that would have to be settled. ~. , Mr W. Downie Stewart, M.P., said that he had had the pleasure of serving witn Messrs Marlow and Shacklock on the City Council and he could endorse what had been said of their great work for the city. They had been members at a time wnen some of the largest civic undertakings had been launched, and their work in this respect had been of the greatest value. It had been said that it was regrettable that there was no place in which their services would still be available, and it might therefore be suggested that a kind of Legislative Council might be established in the city.—(Laughter.) i^ocai

government in New Zealand, which followed the British system, was based on experience extending over centuries. It had been notably free from corruption and had also been notably efficient. Inc country waa fortunate in being able to call on voluntary service of men such as their guests. Their names would' be placed high on the scroll of the foremost citizens of Dunedin. The Deputy Mayor (Cr Jones) said that one recognised that Dunedin had one of the finest hospitals in New Zealand, and Mr Knight deserved credit for his work ag chairman of the board which had placed the institution in such a position. The work of Messrs Marlow and Shacklock on the City Council had been outstanding. They must, indeed, be proud of their record and of their service during a time in which the city had made such great growth. They must be especially proud of their part in placing the city in such a strong position financially. The speaker referred especially to Mr Marlow's part in the .organisation of a civic queen carnival which had raised £12,000 for relief. This work was characteristic of Mr Marlow, who had always shown great sympathy for the poor of the city. Cr Begg, on behalf of the older members of the City Council, said that the greatest monument Messrs Marlow and Shacklock had left was the Waipori electric scheme, and both, as chairmen of the Electric Power and Lighting Committee, had done a vast amount of work that would always be remembered. It had been his privilege, said the speaker, to serve for four years under Mr Knight on the Hospital Board, and. he was fully conscious of all that Mr Knight had done. He trusted that the experience and knowledge which the guests possessed would not be lost to those who were left to carry on the work of the city. The chairman of the Otago Hospital Board (Mr J. W. Dove) paid a tribute to Mr Knight's work as chairman of the board, stating that he had set an example which anyone might be proud to follow. RECIPIENTS* REPLIES > In reply, Mr Marlow said that nothing that had been said had given him so much pleasure as the reference to Mrs Marlow. He had always enjoyed her assistance without a single complaint. He -wondered if the city realised how much it owed to the old councillors —those who had been members even before Mr Shacklock and himself. They had played a great part in placing Dunedin, eo far as civic organisation was concerned, first among the cities of the southern hemisphere. During all his 38 years of public life he could not recall a councillor whom he was not able to call a personal friend. Questions had always been discussed on their merits and without feeling. He thought that the biggest mistake that_ could ever happen to the city was for its council to vote on party lines. — (Applause.) ' I love my city, and I have tried to work for it," Mr Marlow added. " I believe that love lightens all labour, and the man who loves his work, will attempt the almost impossible, whereas another might despair. I still have plenty of youth and vigour and I am still at your service. There is no greater pleasure than to know that one's services are appreciated."— (Loud applause.) Mr Shacklock, in reply, said that he thought Mr Hamel was out in his dates. The only date that he could remember clearly was 1905, in ivhich year he had joined the City Council. It was no use saying that he was not sorry to retire from civic life, for in many respecte he was. He had made many friends, and had been pleased and proud to work with ' them. Like Mr Marlow, he had tried to do his best, and when it came to spending money he tried to remember that he was in the position of a trustee, and bad to be careful with other people's money. The electors of the city had given him a good run, and be had never been turned down at an election. He trusted that the present councillors would continue to act in the same sound way as the councillors of the pa6t had done, and, in conclusion, he hoped that he would still be able to help the city whenever it was in hie power to do so. Mr Knight said that on entering public life close on 30 years ago he had never anticipated that he would be honoured in such a way. He summarised the growth of the activities of the Hospital Board, and stressed the fact that its expansion had been accomplished without resort to borrowing of any kind. He also paid a tribute to the staffs working under the board. In his long career he had never yet fallen out with a member. He gave to Mrs Knight the greatest credit for the assistance which she had given him during his association with local bodies. During the evening Begg's Orchestra, under the conductorship of Mr J. V. Himburg, rendered a selection of items, and songs were given by Mr C. Hawes and Miss D. Sligo. A short community sing was also held, Mr Himburg being the song leader.