LENGTHY SERVICE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16256, 5 July 1918, Page 7

LENGTHY SERVICE.

COMMISSIONER OF BANDS CONGRATULATED. Yesterday Mr W. H. Skinner, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Canterbury, completed 46 years' scrvice in the Lands and Survey Department, and eulogistic references to the fact were made at the meeting of the .band Board. . . , Mr R Macaulav, the sonior member of tho Board, in congratulating Mr Skinner, said it was a matter that any man might bo proud of to belong not only to the public service of the Dominion,* but to tho Lands ana Survey It was a pleasure to sit under Mr Skinner, who was always courteous, and who had the business of the Board at his fingers' ends. Ho hoped that Mr Skinner would continue in 'his present position until he felt he could justly retire. Mr T. Gee said he desired to ondorse Mr Macaulay's remarks. Undoubtedly Mr Skinner possessed the confidence of the members of tho Board,' and also what ho (Mr Skinner) appreciated more the confidence of the Crown tenants. The Commissioner had a hard row to hoe, because he had to doal with the Minister, the Crown tenants, and the members of the Board, and, -possibly, found the members of the Board easiest to dml with. He was certain that Mr Skinner had earned the respect of nil' those -with whom he had come in contact. Mr Wm. Cunningham said that, as the youngest member of tho Board, he had very much pleasure in endorsing the remarks of -tho previous speakers. His experience of Mr Skinner was that he was a- verv competent and able man, and if they "followod him over mountainous country, as they had done, they would think he was a hearty man of 40 years of ago. Mr Skinner said it was prood of members to make the remarks they had made, and it was ploasinr to learn that he possessed their confidpnco. _ One member had said that he (Mr commanded the confidence of the Crown tenants. Mr G<"»: T am sure of i£. Mr Skinner: I am very pleaded to hear that. He had thought tVint. he poswssfv 3 ! the coufidwnen of tho members of tho Board. • Tho business had run smoothly, despite occasional differences. It had h«en a real pleasure to work with the Canterbury Land Board. The work had been made easier hy the way Mr Robert Leekie, the secretary, manaced the business. Mr Lockie was an oxpert Land Board secretary, which made things verv much easier for the Commissioner. It was with whom, he was working who helped thincrs on. It was a pleasure to him to know that after M vears' service he was still able to do his work. Sometimes he felt that he would like to iret out of it, but while the time of was on one must "carry on" if able to do so.