MANY TRIBUTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 33, 7 August 1936, Page 7

MANY TRIBUTES

MR. C. J. MCKENZIE

STAFF PRESENTATIONS

Tributes to the excellent work donef by Mr. C. J. McKenzie as Engineer-in-Chief and Under-Secretary dl, the Public Works Department were voiced by speakers at a large gathering of the Public Works head office staff and engineers yesterday afternoon when farewell presentations were made to I Mr. McKenzie, who has .recently re- | signed from..the above-mentioned positions, on account of ill health. The presentations were made by the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Seniple) and consisted of a-handsome writing desk, a gold-plated inkstand, a chair, and an illuminated address containing the photographs of the district engineers and Mr. . :McKenzie's own portrait, and the signature ofnearly everyone in the Department. la addition there was a cheque representing the balance of contributions by the Public Works- staff towards the presentations. The Minister presented to' Mrs: McKenzie an inscribed wristlet watch from the officers of the Department. :, """.".. Mr.. McKerizie's.successor, Mr. J. Wood, presided., He said that during Mr. ..McKenziey -illness' thfe .sympathy, of every one of toem'went'.out to a chief who was'beloyed by' all who knew him. He had""ihyariably received the highest loyalty from everyone who worked for him .because he was a sincere friend to' aIL-During the three years and a half in,which he was Engineer-in-Chief. his advice had been invaluable to the Government of the day and no man could ha^e served it better. ■- It was- deeply regretted by every officer in the: Departriiient that Mr. McKenzie's health was no.t.such as to permit him to assist the hew Government. Mr. Wood expressed; "the best wishes of the.Department■'to-'-Mr. McKenzie, with the hope that": he would be long spared to enjoy his-retirement. Messages of I appreciation of Mr. McKenzie's services and expressing good wishes were: received from former: Ministers of public Works (the Rt. Hon. J. G. • Coates; and Mr. J, Bitchener) ..■.',. i : . . -y.-;i ■ : Speaking for the outside staff of the Department, Mr. F. S. Dyson, Auckland district engineer, said he 'hadj been Mr. McKenzie's "chief offsider" at. one.stage, and the hand of friendship that Mr. McKenzie had offered' him then had been typical of the treatment he meted out to every member} of the service who was associated with! him. •■-.--■■ ■■'.-,-.■ PRAISE FROM MINISTER. "I was associated with. Mr. McKetw zie in his.official capacity as a publia works engineer long before he became head of the Department,'-' said the Minister, "and.'l can without hesitation confirm the statements already mada by Mr. Wood and Mr. Dyson. Mr. McKenzie is one of Nature's gentlemen. I have met him in the hurly-burly day a when my visits to his office were not) always of. the most pleasant, but whatever were the proposals that were placed before him they always received the greatest consideration. "I want to assure hint that he has won a name that will liye long in tha memories of those who.know him best. The greatest reward anyone can receive; is the good will and esteem of the menc and women he has been most closely, associated with, and .that reward undoubtedly is Mr. McKenzie's. "1. wish to express my; personal regret and the regret of the Government that'^r. McKenzie's health does not permit ; ; him ; U». help, us, and I know; that-ho.- one feel^ it mtire'keenly'than' he;; does.;;.;: I want hgn'; io; go to hi 3 home, forget the. worries of roads and bridges and railways, and look after his health so that he may enjoy a Jong and. happy ..life in retirement with. Mrs.. McKenzie." Mr; McKenzie mentioned that Mr. F. W. Furkert, a former Engineer-in-Chief of the Department, was present, in addition to four beads of Departments who had'formerly belonged- to the Public Works1 Department That showed that the Department was a really good" training ground, and one which offered plenty of opportunities of advancement to the younger officers. He thanked the members of the Department for the good wishes which, had been extended to hint'and for the gifts Ihat had been made to Mrs. McKenzie andjnmself^^__^ ■