RETIRING PUBLIC SERVANTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15638, 4 October 1921, Page 8

RETIRING PUBLIC SERVANTS.

FAREWELL FUNCTION. : f 8 The Gisborne branch of the Public Ser•ice Association last evening tendered a arewcll function to three of the veteran i ■ivil servjants who are retiring on super- r limitation, the guests being Messrs R. | Stone Florance, W. J. Wheeler, and J. | Teo. Clare. The function was held ip rLe Grand tea rooms, and was. attended I by about two hundred of the civil ser- " vants and their friends, who wished to thus honor the retiring members of their organisation. The proceedings were of a more or less informal, nature, and under Mr R. A. Hayman's presidency, were carried through with a great degree of sociability, numerous speeches being interspersed with songs and elocutionary it cnis. In his opening remarks, Mr Hayman, president of the local branch of the Public Service Association, expressed gratification at the large attendance as- i sembled to do honor to the associations \ which were in a measure to be severed.' ( The old friends to whom tho function was given were among the oldest mem- ' bers of the Association, and it was only fitting that the final stages of their connection should be marked by such an > occa-sion as this.'. He apologised for unavoidable absence on behalf of Messrs J. S. Barton, S.M., and E; Beatson. - The toast of "The Guests" was in the capable hands of Mr C. E. Armstrong, district engineer, who proposed the health in a manner expressive of deep feeling. He referred to his long association • with each of the guests, and expressed deep regret, which he knewi would be generally shared, at their departure from their respective departments. Each of them, he said, had been greatly interested in the progress of the Public Service • Association, and bad actively assisted its growth. It was a ■matter for pleasure that tWo, at least, of those whom tfiey were farewelling were. to remain in the district, and would not entirely sever their associations with the public, service. Mr Clare, replying to the toast, which 'was honored with enthusiasm, heartily thanked those'present for the kindly re-marks-and-expressions of goodwill towards him. His recollections of his long connection with the civil service would always be most pleasurcablc ones. Mr Florance referred feelingly to the congenial relations and hearty loyalty engendered among the civil servants by the Public Service Association. Gatherings such as this were greatly instrumental in the promotion of these sentiments, and were therefore well justified. Of the courtesy and warm friendship shown him be would always have most pleasant memories, and the memory of this evening would be among the foremost. Mr Florance paid a tribute to the work of Mr Hayman, their president, in connection with the Association. That this farewell function, with its demonstration of friendly regard towards himself and bis feflow guests of honor, was more than sufficient reward for anything he may have done'towards the success of the Association, was the sentiment expressed by Mi\ W. J. Wheeler. He had no regrets as to his connection with tho Public Service Association, though he could see where the Association could be improved in its relaTion to the public servants. He suggested that, in Mr Venning and Mr Thompson, the Association bad two most valuable members, whose health he called upon the assembly to honor, which was duly done. A short toast list was subsequently honored, including the health of The new arrivals in the various departments. Dr. Mercer, who was present; spoke briefly upon the value of the Association as a medium of fellowship between the staffs of tho various departments, for tlie good of the civil servants and the benefit of the service as a. whole. During the evening songs were contributed by Misses Wheeler and Sutherland, and Messrs York, Hamihana, and W T illiams. Misa Edwards gave a recitation, and Miss Whiting a. pianoforte solo. Monologues were rendered bv Messrs Williams and Sutherland. The acompaniments were played with appreciation bv Misses Whiting arid Halbert, and Mrs Morrison. The function concluded with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.