PAST POWER BOARD CHAIRMAN.

Putaruru Press, 2 June 1926, Page 8

PAST POWER BOARD CHAIRMAN.

SERVICES RECOGNISED. Presentations Made. Eulogies of the services of Mr. FI. H. Claxton as chairman of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board during the past four years were expressed at the annual meeting of the board on Thursday and a presentation wasmade to him on behalf of the members. Regret was also expressed that Mr. Claxton had found it necessary to retire from the board. Mr. Strang-e said that during the board’s existence the relationship of the members was excellent and no one district was pitted against the other. In this, great credit was due to the chairman. On behalf of the board members he presented Mr. Claxton with a framed shield containing a photograph of each member of the board. Mr. Claxton, in reply, said he had been connected with the board sine* its -inception. It was not necessary™' for them to give him any tangible recognition of his services—their help**, and great assistance were sufficient.. He had been in local body affairs for: the past 19 years and in all his connections he had had no greater pleasure than being connected with ,the Thames Valley Power Board. His first connection with the board was a duty, then it became a hobby and finally an obsession. His work, continued Mr. Claxton, had been rendered ’ very easy Nay the co-operation of the staff. He referred particularly ,to the manager and the engineer. He appreciated greatly the members’ aH*. tucte towards him. If the board etrtvs ried on in the way it had laid its foundations he could see nothing but success in front of them. Mr. Arthur moved that the board plaae on record its appreciation of 'Mr. Claxton’s services to the board.. "Mr. Claxton should be proud of the work he had done. 1 Mr. Price seconded' and said he had ' known Mr. Claxton almost as long as [ he knew his own father and mother.. tie could not find a suitable express- ’ ion to describe his appreciation. In ’ expressing appreciation of Mr. Clax- " ton's great work he was voicing the. sentiments cf all the ratepayers, 7 Mr. Flatt said Mr. Claxton raised the board to a prominent ' position among the boards of New ' Zealand, and Mr. Claxton was spoken 7 of from one end of New to 1 the other in connection with elecp tricity. 1 The motion was carried with ac- ’ j clamation. 5 On Wednesday evening Mr. Claxton--3 was presented by the hoard’s staff 3 with a handsome silver electric-heated' coffee tureen.