POPULAR OFFICER OF CITY

Southland Times, Issue 24162, 26 June 1940, Page 6

POPULAR OFFICER OF CITY

SUPERINTENDENT OF RESERVES DEPARTURE ON ACTIVE SERVICE

Mr B. P. Mansfield, who has, been superintendent of the Invercargill city reserves for seven years, will leave Invercargill by the express this afternoon to join the Forestry Company of the

2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Mr Mansfield has been a member of the executive of the Southland Boys and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs Association for seven years and president for four years: For seven years he has been secretary of the Southland District Council of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. He has been garden editor of The Southland Times for two years. Under his control a vigorous policy of development and maintenance has been pursued in the city reserves. Immediately on the outbreak of war Mr Mansfield prepared a scheme for growing produce on the reserves and although he enlisted for overseas service last September his services were retained until the scheme had been brought to a successful conclusion. Members of the City Council bad farewell to Mr Mansfield last night. Cr E. J. McLauchlan said Mr Mansfield had been superintendent of reserves for seven years, longer than the association of almost any councillor with the council. He had put in seven years of energetic administration and raised the standard of the reserves until they compared favourably with those of any city of the size of Invercargill. He had taken a keen interest in public affairs in the city and done much for the advancement of horticulture. He had had commercial experience which had proved extremely valuable. He had decided to undertake active service and this decision had not been made under the stress of the P re “ sent serious situation. He had enlisted on the outbreak of war, but his services had been retained so that he might bring to fruition his producegrowing scheme with which Invercar- > gill had led the Empire. He was an officer who could not be replaced and who ■ would be welcomed back to his duties after the war. Cr A. W. Jones, a former chairman : of the Reserves Committee, said Mr Mansfield was a capable officer and a man of great vision. He was not a “time server” and could be found in his office at very late hours. He congratulated Mr Mansfield on his decision to serve with the forces and said he I was sure he would serve with distinction. The citizens of Invercargill might not have appreciated the values of his services fully, but he could say that. Mr Mansfield’s qualities were recognized fully among horticultural authorities throughout New Zealand and abroad. The city had benefited greatly from ms services. He wished Mr Mansfield a safe return and opportunity to serve the city again. In the early days of broadcasting in Invercargill Mr Mansfield, had given gardening talks from station 4ZP Cr R. T. Parsons said, and letters had been received from all parts of New Zealand commenting on the excellence of the talks. Cr A. Scott and the Deputy-Mayor (Mr J. R. Martin) also spoke and Cr McLauchlan then presented Mr Mansfield with a razor.

“Though it is more than seven years since I joined the service of the council it is the first occasion on which I have attended a full meeting of the council, but I hope it won’t be the last, Mr Mansfield said in reply. When enlistments opened in Invercargill he went down and offered his services because he felt there was no valid reason why he as a single and fit man should not join up. There was only one service which was important at the present time. Mr Mansfield acknowledged the gift and the good wishes of the councillors.