MEMBERS RETIRING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19164, 22 November 1927, Page 8

MEMBERS RETIRING.

REFERENCES AT TRAMWAY BOARD. Some remarks of a valedictory character were made at yesterday's meeting of the Tramway Board by Mr. Geo. T. Booth, the meeting being the last of the Board as at present constituted. Mr Booth congratulated Mr John Wood on his. re-election unopposed. Mr H. Pearce, who is not seeking reelection, Mr Booth said, had been a most consistent member, and had taken an active part in the discussions before the Board. Their chairman (Mr A. S. Taylor) also was not seeking re-elec-tion. They all had had recent experience of Mr Taylor's ability and suavity in conducting the business. Mr E. W. White had become a member recently, but had been a member long enough for them to realise his value. The three members who were retiring had been most useful—as one of the oldest members of the Board he thought he could say that without assuming too much. Mr Taylor thanked Mr Booth for his kindly references to himself and to the other members who were retiring. His connexion with the Board had been a very interesting one, though one had had to. take some criticism and hard knocks. Still that was all part of the game. He had been glad, as a native of Christehurch, to be able to do something for the good of the City. The citizens should bear in mind that the difficulties and problems confronting the Board also confronted other tramway authorities. He expressed his appreciation of the assistance he had received from members, from the Board's officers and the general manager. Mr E. W. White said that, as the youngest member of the Board who was about to retire, he wished to express his gratitude for the opportunity he had been given to associate with members of longer experience. It was not possible to solve the Board's problems by shouting "penny sections." He had been impressed by the manner in which Mr Thompson did his work.

Mr H. Pearce spoke before Mr Booth and referred to his length of membership, saying that he was elected in 1903. Their chief difficulties had been the long mileage and the shortage of population. As to penny sections he had contended that it was a mistake to abolish them, but he recognised that the Board could not afford to carry passengers for Id per mile.