AFTER 47 YEARS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2503, 2 July 1915, Page 2

AFTER 47 YEARS

OLD GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE HONOURED. Most of the staff of the Government Printing Office, with the heads of all departments, assembled at 5 o'clock on Wednesday at the office to do honour to Mr. James Phillips, machine-room foreman, who was retiring on pension after forty-seven years' unbroken service in the Printing Office. Eor a number of years recently Mr. Phillips has been in charge of the machine-rpom, vvhero he has been extremely popular with the men under him; and also with employees in the other departments. On behalf of the employees in the ma-chine-room. Mr. 3. Mackay, Government Printer, presented Mr. Phillips with an enlarged photograph of the staff and an illuminated address, and on behalf of the heads of the Department, two travelling bags, suitably inscribed. In doing so, Mr. Mackay referred to the long and' valued services rendered by the recipient, who, during the last fortyseven years, had done much to assist in the progress of the office. It was hard to part with a man who was almost in the prime of life, but there Was ,great satisfaction in realising that his state of health would enable him to enjoy his woll-oarned retirement. "We are sorry to part with, you," said Mr. Mdokay, "but we wish .you every success, a long life, and complete happiness." (Applause.) Mr. W. A. G. Skinner, Superintendent Overseer, also paid Mr. Phillips a high compliment. Mr. W. P. M'Girr, in charge of the printing room, said that he had come into contact with Mr. Phillips a great deal, and had found him of a most j?;ood-natured and jovial disposition; His dealings with the staff and all he camo in contact with were always amicable. Similar sentiments were expressed by Mr. J. Burns (overseer of the Stamp Department) and Mr. G. Broad (overseer of the bookbinding room). . Mr. Phillips was enthusiastically cheered, and his health was drunk with musical honours. In a brief reply, he stated that he had seen the office grow in a remarkable degree. When he first joined .there were three Royal machines and fifteen men. Now there were thirty-two . machines and sixty-three men. Few people were privileged to see such a great change in the place where they liad_ been employed practically all their lives. He thanked everybody for their kind remarks. and also various other people who had rendered him such great assistance for many years past.