LONG PERIOD OF SERVICE

Southland Times, Issue 24039, 1 February 1940, Page 8

LONG PERIOD OF SERVICE

MANY TRIBUTES TO MR MACKLEY

PRESENTATION MADE ON RETIREMENT NEW GENERAL MANAGER WELCOMED (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 31. “Mr Mackley’s period of service as head of the department is the longest of any officer since Mr T. Ronagne retired 27 years ago, but Mr Mackley’s record in this respect is surpassed by the wonderful energy and enthusiasm in his work which he has maintained throughout. I do not know of any head of a Government department who devoted so much time to his work.” In these words the Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) paid a tribute to the retiring General Manager of Railways (Mr G. H. Mackley), who has completed 40 years’ service with the department, at a farewell gathering in the Railway Social Hall this afternoon. Mr E. Casey, assistant General Manager, who has been appointed to succeed Mr Mackley, presided, and among those on the official platform were the second assistant General Manager (Mr H. Valentine), the chief engineer (Mr C. J. Bertinshaw), Mrs Mackley and Master Peter Mackley. The hall was filled to capacity. Mr Mackley was presented by the Minister with a canteen of cutlery, a silver tea service and a salmon rod. The retiring General Manager is well known as an enthusiastic fisherman. WORK RECOGNIZED “I think it can be taken as a high compliment to Mr Mackley that so many of our staff have attended to bid farewell to him,” said the Minister. What Mr Mackley had done in asking to be relieved at the expiration of his 40 years’ service was something he had thought out for himself, but he had the pleasure of knowing that his work had been recognized and that he had attained the highest position in the service to which he had devoted his life. His appointment to that position six or seven years ago had been followed by a period of great progress and marked expansion. Mr Sullivan said he was very pleased to have the opportunity, in association with officers of the de-

partment, in extending good wishes to Mr Mackley on the occasion of his retirement.

Mr Mackley started as a cadet in the traffic branch at Otautau, Southland, on January 31, 1900, exactly 40 years ago, and in his first few years of service his conspicuous ability was only excelled by his achievements as a sportsman. DALMATIANS’ FRIEND “Later,” the Minister continued, “we find Mr Mackley at Kaikohe in the far north of New Zealand where the Dalmatians found him a~good friend in the troubled year of 1914 when they were threatened with internment. They expressed appreciation of his efforts on their behalf by the presentation of a watch which Mr Mackley still prizes.” After tracing Mr Mackley’s progress through the service to the high position he had attained, the Minister said that all were aware of his untiring efforts to extend the scope of, and improve the department’s services. His progressive outlook and unbounded interest in all aspect of railways operations had resulted in his period as General Manager being one of outstanding progress and achievement. “I particularly wish to thank Mr Mackley for the assistance which he has given me at all times since I took over the office of Minister of Railways at the end of 1935,” said the Minister. “While it is with a feeling of regret we resign ourselves to the loss of Mr Mackley’s valuable services and the severance of the official relations which have so long existed, it is nevertheless our privilege to extend to him our very best wishes for a long and happy retirement and a continuance of good health to enable him to pursue the active outdoor life which he so much enjoys.” WELCOME TO MR CASEY In extending a welcome to the new General Manager, Mr Sullivan said he had complete faith in Mr Casey and in his ability to spare no effort to live up to the highest traditions of his predecessors. Mr Valentine said that his association ■with Mr Mackley went back 30 years

and even as long ago as that he was greatly impressed with his efficiency as a railwayman. He was a man of strong character, great ability and determination. Three men at the present gathering, the Minister, Mr Mackley and Mr Casey, had climbed from the lowest rung of the ladder, said Mr Bertinshaw. They were an inspiration to all the young men in the service and it made

one feel proud to live in a land where such careers were possible. After a period of journalism Mr Sullivan had risen to Cabinet rank and had taken over some of the most important portfolios in the country. Mr Mackley had started as a cadet in the traffic branch and Mr Casey as a cadet in the engineering branch. RELATIONSHIP WITH STAFF The relationship between Mr Mackley and the staff had always been most cordial, said Mr Casey. The retiring General Manager had never spared any effort to help the staff and had always been most hospitable and generous with all with whom he had come in contact. “I have on very many occasions had the victim sitting beside me, but today I am the victim. So many kind remarks leave me in something of a dilemma,” said Mr Mackley, who received a great ovation on rising to reply. The men and women with whom he had worked had always been regarded, not merely as employees of the department, but as very real friends, he said. He was leaving with the happiest feelings possible and he regretted officially parting from so many good friends.

He had started life with good parents, a mother and father who had to graft hard for 13 children and he owed to them everything he possessed, health, mental faculties and what little ability he might have. “And I owe a great deal to the men and women of the railway service,” said Mr Mackley, “for the assistance and help they have given me to build firmly on that foundation. I have had around me a body of men and women that I believe quite honestly have no equal in any service or industry in this or in any other country.” PROGRESS OF SERVICE Mr Mackley said his association with Mr Sullivan had always been most pleasant and it must be satisfactory to the Minister and the Government to know that the railways of New Zealand had made such progress toward the goal of giving to the public the maximum possible service. To Mr Casey he felt that he was handing over an efficient and well-equipped organization. “I believe the railways are better in these respects than they have ever been before,” said Mr Mackley.