SOON TO RETIRE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 28, 3 December 1948, Page 5

SOON TO RETIRE

Whakatane Postal Officials

Two members of the staff of the Whakatane Post Office are to retire next year on superannuation after completing 40 years service. They are Mr R. Riddell, who retires at the end of March, and Mr C. G. Maxwell,.who leaves in June. Both men are well known in Whakatane. Mr R. Riddell Mr Riddell, postmaster unattached, joined the post office as a message boy at Milton in 1908. Three years later he was shifted to Cromwell, Otago, and almost immediately was. transferred to the telegraph office in Dunedin. But he did not remain in this post for long. After six months service he left the South Island on transfer to Wellington, where he stayed until 1926. During the 191418 war he had four years overseas with New Zealand Forces, rising to the rank of sergeant and receiving the Military Medal. He was transferred as postmaster to Johnsonville in 1926, and when the last war broke out he joined the National Military Resesve. He was commissioned and on his return to the post office in 1944 was moved to. Whakatane where he has been ever since. Well known in tennis circles as secretary of the Whakatane Club, Mr Riddell intends, to retire in Whakatane. •* Mr C. G. Maxwell Well known in Whakatane for his work during the war, Mr Maxwell is not certain yet whether he will remain in Whakatane after his retirement. But, having been in the town for 30 years he is reluctant to leave.

Mr Maxwell joined the post office' in 1908 at Te Aroha, as message boy. Two years later, he was transferred as a cadet to Mercer,, and soon after to Pukekohe. Just before World War I he was again shifted, this time to Dargaville. He attempted to enlist but was refused becauce of varicose veins. In 1916 he went to Hamilton and two years later received notice to come to Whakatane.

At that time, Mr. Maxwell said, the town was very small. The post office had a staff of only 11. Now it has gbout 40. There were few shops and the Grand Theatre was just being erected. Although fond of football Mr Maxwell was unable to play it. Being- a telegraphist he had to work on Saturday when he- first came to Whakatane. He was kept fairly .busy then, handling telegrams for the local bookmaker, who used the post office fairly extensively in those days, as therO was no radio. But he did find time for athletics and tennis. Last year Mr Maxwell suffered a nervous breakdown, brought on by his heavy work during the war. He has now fully recovered.