A.M.P. SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3184, 7 September 1917, Page 7

A.M.P. SOCIETY

MR. E. W. LOWE RETIRES HONOURED BY THE STAFF. .: „ After forty-nine years' service with the A'ustralian Mutual Provident Society, ■Mr. E. W. Lowo, manager ii> New Zea•tend siiico 1877, has formally retired from tho society's employ/:.To mark that event,, tho whole of the local staff assembled at Miss Tendall's rooms yesterday afternoon to bid .farewoll 'to their <ihief,--and present him with a-token, of their regard. .Jlr.' A. do B, Brandon, deputy chairman of the board of directors, occupied tho'chair, and,there wero present Messrs. A. F. Roberts and Harold Beauchamp (directors), John Duncan (ex-director), ■ Dr. Anson (chief medical i«feree),-Mr. W: J. Harland- (chief actountaiit), and Air.; 'Martin Chapman (formerly connected with'tho society's firm of solicitors). - - - After, a deleotabjo afternoon- tea, Mr. jA.'. do B. Brandon rose to say that he was honoured in being asked tq preside that day, particularly as ho wne perhaps the oldest friend of Mr. Lowe's in the room. ' That, day Mr ; Lowe left ' the IA.M-.P.- Society on account of nee.'in , the life of the A.M.P.-Society, Mr. Lowe And Mr. Richard Tecce, who had also lately-retired on account of age, had done great work in.'.heir sphere of activity— work which had been of immense value to the eociety. On behalf- of thn staff ' he had much pleasure in wishing Mr. Lowe'long life and happiness, and ex- , .pressed-,the hope that he would live amongst them for many years to contemplate tho past and criticise the.present. With these remarks he handed to Mr. Lowe tho staff's tribute to a good and just officer ■.-■' ' . . On behalf of the.staff, Mr. W. j. Harland said that the occasion \vas a unique , tine, as it was the first time "they had cverjiadto say good-bye to a manager -■:.« the.society.- Mr. Lowe's p retirement . had been beforo them for ebnie time, and nojv. that the.time had come there -. was a feeling of sadness, as they had now to realjse that ttiey had to do without -, mm in their daily life and work. Al- . though, there was a 1 feeling of sadness it was. riot altogether .without great pride m the knowledge ; that they' had : ' been associated with one whoso work -had\heen ot such pronounced value to the society'. He ; -felf: that the. results achieved had teen very largely due'to',Mr, Lowe's- 1 1 splendid enthusiasm and the manner in which ho had! always finspired the officers •under him.-:' TEey.had been in'a state of continual excitement, . breaking records which they had done for .many yeaTS, and when they,were not breaking records tffey had to beat some other'competitor." iHe was" sorry that so many of the'boys were away at the fighting front, and could/not be with th'emjbut ho was sure they-we're ..with them in epirit. • Numerous letters had been ' received- from/them; , all of which had expressed sentiments of gard and esteem for ";Mr. Lowe. For ■himself and the staff-he had to express , thanks-for many kindnesses, and sympathy, ahd'lie hoped that .Mr. Lowewould long be spared to enjoy the happiness of a well-earned retirement./' • • '."'■,.• : Speaking on behalf of the outdoor staff. •Mr. J. W. Carr said that on' such an

. occasion _he had thought it "fitting to Communicate • ivith. the members of tie jtstaff in nii p.wts-of/ New Zealand, and telegrams V.ad,been pouring in bcarius expressions of. 'regard ■ and all ; sorts , of good.wishes -for Sir.' Lowe.' Verbally'it was difficult for him to adequately ex-, press thD ieelhigs of the society's agents' ' throughout New Zealand, but at all times ■when they to deal -with difficulties tha't" existed, Mr. advice had •been always forthcduiing to help and. encourage them :in .svery way. ' After all they were the "dust ■ rnillers/'. who bought the "■ "grist to:the mill," and one and all "they wished Mr: Lowe - long life and--happiness." ■ Onbahalf'of -the outdoor staff, Mr. Carr presented Mr. Lowe Trith a handsome silver rose-bow], and in .response to a request banded nim a .goldmounted umbrella from the'local cleanins Staff. '_ ■ ' . ' :-' . : :■'■ 'An Interesting Review. ■ i Tn response, Mr. . Lowe, ,who was received with applause,,6aid'he was'»iceed-: ingly.pleased- to see such a' great ing to honour him. He was really surprisee to see so many ladies who were attached to-the staff. He could not express hie feelings as freely 'as he. would like to, but he sincerely thanked Mr. Brandon and the staff'for the beautiful presents they had made .himjas mementoes' ot 1 their appreciation of the services lie had Tendered .to. tho society.. Mr. ,Lowe gave ! fin interesting review of his connectionwith the." society.' .'. .; . . - ' . He entered the society's service in. Syd3ioy on June -19, 1868, next above ■ the junior clerlj, and three years after -of-1 fered Ha services, if anyone was te- ■ quired, to go to New Zealand,' where it had been decided to establish a branch. He received, an-appointmeuf and landed 3u Auckland on July■ 1, 1871,' together with" the then secretary :>i the society, ■the late Mr. 'Alexander,-Ralstqn,' and ; the ■ Jate Mr. Joseph Dwyer, who" held the position of resident secretary. He l vas. then not quite ii years of ago, and six years afterwards, on the death of Mr. Dwyer, he was appointed resident secretary,- and had held that position ever 1 since—over 40 years, a-longer period-than any other officer in the'service had held such & position. ■.■■..-, ■ '■■■■■~. --V . '.

Wellington was but a small-city in IWI Bard Mr. Lowe. The North nnd South ivere very envious of it being the capital,, and used .to term it a "fishing village."

However, the "fishing village" was tho centra of New Zealand, and by naturewas fitted to become tho'great distributing centre of New Zealand, and would always be so. Mr. Lowe said it had beoh a creat privilege (x> him to huyo been associated for so. mauy years with the gentlemen who had Ainnod t,WLocal Board of tUo society. There him been W fewer than sixteen directors on.the Loc-al Board sinco ho became manager. Ton of those hud "passed away," and one had resigned (Mr. John Duncan), and five, were still i" '-Hiee. Mr. Lowo expressed regret that the chairman, tho Hon. C. ,T. Johnston, was not present that day, owing to ill-hoa!th. He also spoko very highly of tho staff, and thanked them all for'the loyal as-' fiistanco thoy hnd given 'him at all limes in, tho conduct of tho business. No fewer than 23 of the staff' hud oiilisted tor the war, and only three of them wero at the present time in camp, all the rest being at the front. Every available eligible unmarried officer within tho military ago had enlisted. Of those who hnd gono to tho front nix had laid down their lives for their King: and country, and three had been wounded. Mr. Lowe paid a tribute of appreciation to tho agents who worked outside. Mr. Lowe said he regretted that Mr. Amies, tho gentloman appointed to succeed him, was not present. 'Unfortunately ho had been detained in Sidney, having been unable to get a passage to New Zealand owing- to tho strike in the Commonwealth. Jlr. Amies was not unacquainted, with New Zealand, having been accountant hero, about eight years! ago. He lield the position for five years, and was then appointed manager at Brisbane. 'In conclusion) Mr. Lowo 6aid: "I have' now given you a short history of the New-Zealand branch of tho society since its establishment, .and tho result of my life's .work, and it only remains for ine to express my own deep regret at having to part, from you, but I leave you feeling that you will all continue to strive to' keep-the New Zealand branch c,f the A.M.P. Society in its present proud position, and.l can nssure you, although lam obliged, on account or tho provisions of the Officers' Provident Fund Act, to -retire after 49 years of service, I shall al-ways-feel proud that I have .for'such a long time been instrumental in guiding the destiny of the New Zealand branch of the society, and I now bid you farewell. •••.•„■ - "If for ever, . Still for -. ever, Fare you well." Mr. L6we was loudly appfauded on resuming his seat. ' . ' : Mr. Brandon .said that in other circume'tahces . : 'he : would ; have." asked them all to' ch'arge their glasses,' but -with. ■' so mahy\ ladies , preeent he- could only-ask them to Taise their teacups and. drink the health of Mr. Lowe, which was.'done', with-musical honours*. . ; . Mr. Lowe said that his health, had been excellent. Indeed, , during the whole of his 46 years in Wellington he had only been in bed three and a half days. Mr. '■ Beauchamp: What, about tho nights? (Laughter.) • Continuing, Mr. Lowe said: that he intended to remain in Wellington, as ho , thought it was the 'best place' in New Zealand. (Applause.) The'presents received by Mr. Lowe were a silver, card tray from the directors, a. silver salver and liqueur stand from tho office staff, a silver rose bowl from the outside staff, and a silver clock from Dr. Ansoh (chief medical officer);

Directors' Appreciation. In conneotion. with the retirement of Mr. Lowe, tho following Resolution was proposed'by Mr: A. tie 8. Brandon, tho chairman, anu carried unanimously :■— . . ■■..■•■./ "This meeting, being the last. occasion on which Mr.' Loive acts as manager for New Zealand, the board records its appreciation of his long and faithful serfice, and in particular their recognition of his whole-souled devotion to the in. terests' of- the society in the periods in which. the indhidual members of the board have held ofiice." • •