A VALUED MEMBER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 41, 16 June 1947, Page 5

A VALUED MEMBER

LATE MR F. J. BURT HOSPITAL BOARD TRIBUTE Sincere tributes to the good work of the late Mr F. J. Burt, of Matata, as a member of the Bay of Plenty Hospital Board since 1903 were paid by all members at the meeting of the board on Thursday. Sincere tributes to the good work of the late Mr F. J. Burt, of Matata, as a member of the Bay of Plenty Hospital Board since 1903 were paid -•by all members at the meeting of the board on Thursday. Those who had been associated with Mr Burt on the board, said the chairman, Mr J. Mullins, had been impressed by the extent of his knowledge which was the result of having been a member for over 40 years. Mr Burt had accumulated this knowledge as a member of so many local bodies from the early days of the district. He had been able to trace the growth and development of the Hospital Board and other institutions from their inception.

Mr A. McGougan, who had known the late Mr Burt from the early days, of the district, in sport and in other matters,. said he was a fine man and had a fine character. He had taken an interest in every social and public activity not only in his own district but throughout the county. While Mr Burt’s sudden end had been a shock to his friends it was probably just as he would have wished it to be. He had been a great sport and he had collapsed while at a football match.

Mr C. A. Suckling, who had been associated with Mr Burt on the board for longer than other members, said it had always been a pleasure to work with Mr Burt. While on the visiting committee he had shown a remarkably keen interest in every detail. He was thoroughly conversant with every detail of hospital administration ’as a result of his long service on the board. Mr H. C. McCready referred to the great sacrifice of time and also of money, that Mr Burt had made in order to serve the public so well. His life was an example to others to make a similar - contribution to public life.

Mr A. Mitchell spoke of Mr Burt’s long record of service on local bodies, a record that few men could claim. Undoubtedly Mr Burt had made great sacrifices for the benefit of the people of the district. Mr L. Buddie recalled that when he came to the district in 1911 Mr Burt was a youngish middle-aged man who had already been on local bodies for some years. Mr Burt was then a notable figure in tennis circles, and it was due to his keenness that all forms of sport had prospered at Matata. He remembered Mr Burt and old Mr Vesey Stewart as members of the Hospital Board, which then used to meet in turn at Tauranga, Whakatane and Opotiki. Board members would miss him for he had always been so pleasant and so honourable. As one Who. had known Mr Burt well for 20 years Mr J. Caulfield said it did not matter on what subject one approached Mr Burt, whether on county or hospital board matters or anything else, he was always willing to oblige and to do anything to help. He had been a valued member of the visiting committee, always pleasant, and he always had a joke for the patients. Board members stood in silence as a mark of respect. A letter of sympathy is to-be sent by the Board to Miss Burt expressing appreciation of Mr Burt’s service as a member for over 40 years.