RETIRING AFTER 42 YEARS SERVICE IN POST OFFICE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 8, 6 July 1949, Page 4

RETIRING AFTER 42 YEARS SERVICE IN POST OFFICE

The staff of the Whakatane Post Office gathered on Thursday evening to do honour to Mr C. G. Maxwell who is retiring on superannuation after 42 years service in the Post Office.

The Postmaster, Mr G. A. Wilkes, in presenting Mr Maxwell with a silver tea service on behalf of the Post Office staff, referred to his long association with the department and with the Whakatane office in particular. He said that Mr Maxwell belonged to the old school of officers. He was a telegraphist when there was romance in telegraphy but when telegraphists earned their living the hard way. The department could ill-afford to lose men of Mr Maxwell’s type.

Desire to Help Mr G. Henry, Supervisor of the postal branch, also extended good wishes and referred to Mr Maxwell’s unfailing desire to help and oblige the department’s customers. Mr R. S. Buttimore said that the Pest Office stood for three things. Service to the public and co-opera-tion and goodwill to fellow officers. Mr Maxwell had personified all three. If the department ever lost a faithful servant then Mr Maxwell’s retirement must surely be a cleft in the bow of their boat. Mr T. Dixon and Mr Griffiths, Supervisor of the Telegraph, also spoke and Mr Roulston paid a tribute to. the retiring officer on behalf of the Rural Mail drivers.

Mr R. Riddle, recently retired Supervisor of the mail branch, also paid a tribute to Mr Maxwell. The Director General of the Post Office, Mr P. N. Cryer, in a written message paid a tribute to Mr Maxwell. He said that it was- with regret that the department parted with an offier who had served it so loyally.

Witnessed Changes In responding, Mr Maxwell referred to the difficult days in the past and the change he had witnessed in Whakatane. On behalf of himself and Mrs Maxwell he thanked all those present for their good wishes. He gave a word of advice to the junior officers enjoining them to be honest, truthful, loyal to their fellow officers and never to forget the spirit of service which had gone to build up the spirit of goodwill between the Post Office and its many customers.

Mr Maxw T ell joined the Post Office at Te Aroha in 1907. Four years later he was promoted to a cadet-ship-at Mercer and subsequently served ah Pukekohe, Dargaville and Hamilton. He came to Whakatane in 1918 where he remained until his retirement.