CIVIC LUNCHEON

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 60, 4 December 1926, Page 27

CIVIC LUNCHEON

NEW EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WELCOMED TOWN CLERK AND CITY ENGINEER IMPRESSIONS AND IDEALS There were approximately 200 guests at the luncheon tendered to Messrs. E. P, Norman (town clerk) and G. A. Hart (city engineer) by the Mayor in the Concert Chamber yesterday. Among those present were the Hon. R. A. Wright (Minister of Education), Sir John Luke, Messrs. T. Forsyth, P. Fraser, and R. McKeen, M.P.’s, all the heads of municipal departments, some of the mayors and chairmen of other local and suburban bodies, Government officials, and a representative gathering of citizens and their wives. The guests were received at the doors by the Mayor and Mrs. Norwood. At the conclusion of the luncheon the Mayor proposed the health of tlie King, which formality over, he assured all present that he and Mrs. Norwood wished them the heartiest welcome on the occasion which had been arranged to do honour to the two incoming chief executive officers, the new Town Clerk (Mr. E. P Norman) and the new city engineer (Mr. G. A. Hart). Wellington, he said, had made such growth round its beautiful harbour, such progress and on such practical lines, that he thought tliahks were due to .those officers who had occupied various positions concerned with that growth and development for the manner in which they had managed and controlled the public affairs of the city. For those officers he had nothing but praise.

A New Era.' The problems of this city had always been difficult ones, the Mayor proceeded. They had never been blessed with any nice areas <jf flat lands and wooded parks, through which the streets could be made without any trouble. These had to be carved out of the hillsides in the best possible way, and individual residents bad to work, and strive, and plan how best they could hold their houses up. He felt that Wellington was how taking real shape as a city, and was entering upon, a new era, and that the function would mark a new timefi a new condition, and that, from now on, the city would grow into one really worth while. Owing to its geographical position, whatever part of t’’e Dominion succeeds Wellington, was bound to get its little share. _ The conditions as to municipal affairs in the city were unique, for thev were at one time installing two of . their chief executive officers, an important step which he hoped they would never have to do again. Their short experience of the two men thev had engaged led them to believe that “Wellington was on a win," to use a sporting term. He knew they had picked two excellent men for the positions. Mr. Norman had come to Wellington, said the Mayor, from, an important appointment in Melbourne. He had rather a wonderful record, the details of which seemed to reflect all the elements that made a good man. He was not an officer who was likely to go about with a revolver in his pocket; but he was one who had already shown evidence of an exalted sense of duty in its highest sense, and whilst he raised the status of his office he was not going to do. so without consideration for his deserving fellow-officers. From his .reports and his interviews, the speaker had- gathered that Mr. Norman was going to insist that the tramway manager was really "general manager of the trams, and that he would in time bring, about that co-operation and co-ordination which was so urgently desired between all departments. Mr. ’Norman was not going to “manage” any department—he was one who would' require and acquire results, rather than make them. As far as Mr. Hart was concerned, they knew through the Press, of his wonderful experience in engineering practice. So varied had that experience been that the Mayor had no doubt that he would be able to solve many of the problems that were due to the hilly'nature of Wellington, problems that would call for all his ability, judgment, and imagination. Air. Hart was to take charge of a huge department, larger, perhaps, than the population of Wellington would seem to call for,, but it was one with extraordinary ramifications. Mr. Hart’s powers would be extended somewhat in his work. His first duty would be to understand the department as he found it, and then to create the necessary organisation as he believed it ought to be created.

Mr. Norwood concluded bj’ saying that on the coming of these two officers he wished the council and everyone else to do their best to create an atmosphere that would make them do their very best for the community. He was quite satisfied that, given sympathy, help, and assistance, they would have no fear as to the future, for be was convinced that in the two gentlemen named they had the right people in the right place to help solve the problems that confronted the city (Applause.) New Officers in Reply.

Mr. Norman said that he had found since his arrival in Wellington that friendship and good-fellowship were very much alive. He had to thank the Mayor and members of the council for the very hearty welcome given to his wife and himself, and he thanked the Mayor for the great gathering of citizens of Wellington, who had so considerately thought them worthy of a great welcome. He had also found that numerous business men had found time to drop into the office to make themselves known, and to wish him well in his new position. Looking round Wellington with a critical eye, it was really amazing to see how a fine city had been created out of nothing, or less than nothing, for Nature had been, in an engineering sense, absolutely hostile to the hand of man. He could perceive the uphill fight that had been waged to keep up to the standard of other cities more favourably shaped, and it was a credit to all those who had had a hand in its making. With its many trading concerns, Wellington was hardly in a similar position to most other cities. Such were its various interests that it could all probably be harmoniously welded into one great machine by the introduction of what was known in the army as the liaison officer system, which enabled two armies of different nationalities to work together. Wellington had eight or nine departments instead of the usual two, and it was only by getting down to the essence of agreement, with a perfect working understanding with one another, that the duties of all departments could be carried out with advantage. He was hopeful, by working together with the officers in charge of tjje various . departments, to help in. that direction. Mr. Hart expressed to the Mavor and members of the corporation the thanks of his wife and himself for the welcome ' which had been accorded them. Nothing could have exceeded

the cordiality of the welcome given them on their arrival on Saturday last, on a particularly inauspicious day. He thanked God that he was a Lancashire-Yorkshireman, who refused stoutly to believe that the State of the elements adequately portrayed the spirit of the hearts and minds of the people of Wellington. (Applause.) Next he wished to thank his colleague, the town clerk, who had offered the kindest co-operation possible with their short acquaintance, and had shown every desire to give every possible assistance in fulfilling his duties with the highest efficiency, in the interests of the citizens of Wellington. It was in the speaker’s mind to do the same for the town clerk. (Applause). Mutual good-will and forbearance made a willing pair of hacks to pull a not unworthy coach to its ultimate destiny. As to his first impression of the city, something of its spirit was conveyed in the manner in \vhich his forerunners had done the pioneer work. There was every indication that whoever was responsible for tile guidance of the destinies of tlie city in the past had been well qualified to fulfil that function. “I thank God that I have lived long enough not to ire carried away by the frothy ebullition of superficial public opinion, but well and firmly set public opinion founded on rationalism is one of the most potent factors for good in the world,” said Mr Hart. “So it will be no good people coming to me in what I might call ‘superior indignation’ and demanding 9d. for 6d., for they will get very little consideration at the hands of your humble servant! I hope taht good-will and forbearance will prevail, and that you will never regret' taking me to your heart and mind. Any power that Providence has given me will be exercised without stint. No power, seen or unseen, can deviate me from that purpose. I will have my reward when 1 finally lay in my shovel if it can be said: ‘This man did his best for us.’ I coula ask .no further or greater reward; and my greatest satisfaction will be when I hand in my checks to think that you have realised and recognised that.” (Applause). After a look round Wellington he felt every confidence in its people as knowing their own minds. He felt that if his duties were properly fulfilled and his responsibilities met, he would be loyally supported. The toast of the Press was propose'! by Councillor M. F. Luckie, and Sir John Luke proposed the health of the Mavor and Mayoress.