TWO FAREWELLS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1405, 3 April 1912, Page 7

TWO FAREWELLS.

MINISTER AND PUBLIC SERVANT. SIR, MOWBRAY HONOURED. ADDRESS TO SIR JOSEPH WARD. Ordinary activities were suspended in ttao Treasury Department yesterday for about half nn hour, while jts officers esBombled in the "long room" to bid farewell to Mr. E. L. Mowbray (who has just vacated the position of accountant after thirty-eight years' service), and to Sir Joseph Ward, Into'.Minister for I'inance. The Hon. A. M. Myers (Minister for I'innnce), who had been detained.by official- duties, arrived while the function was- in progress. Mr. J. W. I'oynton (Secretary to the, Treasury), in asking Sir Joseph Ward to make, a presentation to Mr. Mowbray, remarked that tho occasion was a very painful one, inasmuch as they were parting with Mr.-Mowbray, a servant whom tho Treasury could ill afford to lose. Sir Joseph Ward said that the. younger men who were present could hardly-realise that Mr. Mowbray had worked his way from a endetship to tho high and responsible position he was vacating. Mr. Mowbray had a record' of thirty-eight years' service, and he had seen the Treasury Department srow from very small beginnings. There had been repeated testimonies from those associated with Mr. Mowbrov that ho was a most excellent officer'a'nd possessed special qualifications. Concluding, Sir Joseph Ward congratulated Mr. Mowbray on the kindly feelings manifested towards him by the staff of tho Department,, and presented him, on their behalf, with a suit-case and a pair of field glasses. Colonel Collins (Auditor and Controller- ' General) saiil that there was no Department in the service where prompt service was more essential'than in the Treasury. The now Minister for I'inance would find tho machine in good working order. It was. a very groat pleasure. Colonel Collins continued!' to see honour done to a brother officer like Mr. Mowbray, with whom he had been associated for thirty-five years. Ho hoped that he would enjoy for many years the rest that he hod so justly earned. Colonel Collins heartily congratulated Messrs. Gibbs and Esson on their promotion.

Mr. Mowbray returned sincere thanks for the Tory handsome present .'made him, and for all the kind things said about him. Mr. Mowbray mentioned that in 1874,-' when he joined the Service, there were only 32 oflicers in the Treasury Department. In the ensuing year this number more than doubled. At the present time the Department had a _ start of about seventy. It was a source of considerable satisfaction to him,.looking back over his period of service, to reflect that lis relations with his brother officers had been of a uniformly friendly nature. lie thanked Sir Joseph Ward and Colonel Collins for the way : in which they had tpoken about him, and assured his hearers that his association with, the officers of the Treasury Department would ever remain a bright spot in his memory. Mr. Mowbray was loudly applauded as he sut down. " . The Departing Minister. Mr. Poynton at this stage said that the officers of the Treasury desired to take advantage of Sir ' Joseph Ward's _ presence to say good-bye. With r. single exception, Sir Joseph" Ward had a record of service as Treasurer in New Zealand and his relations with the Civil Service throughout the whole term had been such that it would, be very."'inproper to neglect this opportunity <»£■" expressing their goodwill towards him and their Tegret at his' retirement. During Sir Joseph Ward's period in control, the status of the Civil Service had been improTed, the salaries of its members had been increased, 'and classification had taken place. New Departments created during Sir Joseph Ward's time had been exceptionally .well treated. For instance, | n minimum'rate'of pay for married' men' had been fixed in: the'.Railways. Postal, and other' Departments, The departing Minister had done maiiy things for the Civil Service'. One of the greatest benefits had been the superannuation scheme. Concluding, .-Mr. -Poyntou read the following address, which had . been signed bv the officers of the Department:—"Eight Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, Bart.., P.C., K.C'.M.G. Sir,—On your retirement from the position of Minister for- Finance, we, the undersigned members of the staff of the New Zealand Treasury Department, desire to place on record our grateful appreciation of the kindness, courtesy, and consideration you have always shown us as public servants 'Wishing you and your family every .earthy blessing, we remain, j-iui'3 : most respectfully." The New Minister,' Sir Joseph Ward said that lie would like, before thanking the officers for their address, to introduce Mr. Myers. He was sure -that they would find in the new Minister of Finance a gentleman anxious to carry on the duties of his office so as to maintain its highest traditions. Ho ■would be an assiduous worker, and would leave a great name. Mr. Myers apologised for his late arrival, mentioning that other duties had detained him. ; He counted it a great privilege, he said, to succeed Sir Joseph Ward as Treasurer. He did not aspire for a moment to emulate the example set by Sir Joseph Ward. They all recognised that the latter had a special aptitude for financial administration. He counted himself fortunate that lie would have the benefit of Sir Joseph. Ward's kindly advice at all times'. It was marvellous to him that, in spite of the onerous duties that the, late Prime Minister had had to carry out, lie had been able to keep such a command of his feeling, and to extend to one and nil that affable trentment that they knew to be characteristic of him.

Sir Joseph Ward said that he wanted to express his sincere appreciation of the cordial expressions of goodwill in the farewell mo-sage'from the officers of the Department. He would always keep it. He had undergone more- trouble over the Treasury than over any other Department by peoplo outside, who did not understand. He was not, of course, referring to Parliament, but to what had taken place outside. Ho had always taken it pleasantly. The message would serve to remind him of n smooth-working Department, doing its duty, and he would always appreciate the kindly motive of its officers in signing this farewell document. Before the officers dispersed, cheers •were given for Sir Joseph Ward, Lady Ward, Mr. Myers, Mr. Poynton, and Mr. Mowbray.