Warm Tributes To Mr W. Sullivan

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 83, 18 August 1948, Page 5

Warm Tributes To Mr W. Sullivan

BOROUGH COUNCIL SAYS AU REVOIR Warm tribute to Mr W. Sullivan’s public work for this community, as a Borough Councillor, as Mayor, and as M.P., was paid fiy a friendly gathering of present and past Borough Councillors who met at the Commercial Hotel on Monday to congratulate him on his selection to attend the Empire Parliamentary Conference in England.

To the accompaniment of a few drinks, the gathering wished Mr Sullivan good travelling and a safe return. They also presented him with a pair of hair brushes as a lasting token of goodwill. A number of speakers foretold still greater progress in the political field for the guest of honour, and at least one referred to him confidently as a future Prime Minister. It was made clear by the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, who opened the proceedings and made the presentation, and by other speakers, that the honour done Mr Sullivan in his selection for the trip was regarded here as an honour to the whole community, and a fitting reward for one who had worked hard to further the interests of his district and his country. Mr Barry and others recalled Mr Sullivan’s long record of local body service here, dating back, so far as the Borough Council is concerned, tc 1925 and including 13 years as Mayor. In reply, Mr Sullivan said his association with and work on local bodies here had always been a pleasure to him, bringing him as it did into contact with men who had given something to the district that had done so much for them. He acknowledged their tributes to himself with the modest comment that his selection for the job in prospect had been by ballot, and he took the opportunity to give Mrs Sullivan a big share of the credit for any public success he had achieved. Giving a brief outline of the scope and purpose of the trip before him, Mr Sullivan said it would be regrettable if South Africa were not represented, as it was rumoured she might not be, because he felt a strong and healthy British Empire was the world’s best guarantee of continued peace. He felt it was the wish of all right thinkers to see Britain again made strong, but if she wanted peace and strength she could not afford any disunity amongst the members of her family of nations. Other speakers at the gathering were Messrs C. S. Armstrong, A. J. Canning, S. S. Shapley, W. Howat, J. Warner, F. B. Cutler, L. Buddie, W. Jarrett, H. G. Warren, Geo. Caisley, R. Si Buttimore, A. D. O’Rourke, E. R. Dijlicar and K. Needham. Mr Sullivan leaves Auckland today by air for Australia, and will continue the trip by sea from Sydney after linking up with the Australian delegation. Mrs Sullivan accompanied him as far as Auckland yesterday.