POPULAR MANAGER

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 11, 6 October 1937, Page 6

POPULAR MANAGER

Our Own Correspondent.

Farewell to Mr. T. A. Moodie at Waipukurau PRESENTATION FROM CLIENTS

From

WAIPUKURAU, Oct. 5. "We are here for a very pleasant purpose, and at the same time a rather sad one," said Mr J. A. Swinburn, of Tourere, who took the chair this afternoon when about 30 Central H.B. clients of Dalgety and Co., Ltd., met at the Tavistock Hotel, Waipukurau, to farewell Mr T. A. Moodie, who has managed the Napier Branch of the firm for 13 years, and to eongratulate him on his promotion to the position oi superintendent for the Dominion. Mr Moodie takes up his new duties on October 12. "We have to eongratulate the chiei on 'his promotion to the highest position his firm has to offer in New Zealand," Mr Swinburn continued. "The sad part is to think that, after all the trouble we olients have taken to break him in, and now that we have got him gentled, we are to lose him" (laughter). The speaker went on to say that, during the slump, they had all been fortunate to have been with a firm like Dalgety's with a man of Mr Moodie's calibre at the head of their aflmrs. "However," Mr Swinburn went on, -'if we hadn't been good farmers, good businessmen, and, above all, good clients, 1 doubt if Mr Moodie would have got his present promotion." "Perhaps we haven't always see eye to eye with Mr Moodie," the chairinan concluded, "but l'm sure all present will agree that there has never been a time when he didn't do his utmost to help us. He was at all times a white man and a gentleman." Mr T. Hobson, a client of 30 years' standing, said he was very sorry indee'd that Mr Moodie was going away, but the sorrow was tempered with joy for all of them when they realised that the promotion would mean much to the advantage of the.ir old friend. Mr Hobson ofi'ered his sincere congratulations, and -wished Mr Moodie success, happ ness and prosperity in his new ofiice. Mr A. itowbottom, endorsing the previous speakers' rernarks, said that they were- losing a great friend and a good businessman. He had been proud to have Mr Moodie's friendship, and felt tliat, while they might be josing an old friend in business, he did not think they. would ever lose their friend so far as his heart was concerned. Mr J. ' R. Byrne expressed appreciation and gratitude . to Mr Moodie for the way in which he had conducted the alf airs ot the . firin in this • district in the best interes'ts of the clients, and talked of the'splendid treatment clients had "had during the depression. . Mr N. R. Jatnieson paid tribute to »Mr Moodie's courtesy, feeling and consideration for the . smaller clients. Mr Colin JScott, a Maori client, spoke feelingly, and eloquently in his native tongue 'of the respect and, as the Maori language expressively puts it, aroha, Mr Moodie had implaiited in the minds and hearts of himself, Mrs Scott, and his family. He could not express his feeiings adequately, be said, but he hoped sincerely that God would be with Mr Moodie and hig family to help them in their new sphere. He presented Mr Moodie with a beautifully handworked mat and belt by which to remember his Maori friends in Hawke's Bav.

Mr T. E. Whelch, in a liappy, humorous speech, congratulated Mr Moodie" on his promotion. Mr Swinburn then asked Mr Moodie to accept, as a token of the very great esteein of the Central Hawke's Bay clients of the firm, a glittering assortment of exquisite . crystal. All were satisfied, the chairman 6aid, that Dalgety's could not have picked a better man in the vvhole of the country for the job they had given Mr Moodie. A hearty toast was drunk to the accompaniment of "For He's A Jolly Good 1 Fellow." Mr Moodie in Reply. In offering his thanks. Mr Moodie said it was vrery hard indeed to express adequate appreciation of so many kind words. It would be 13 years ,in January since he had first eome to Napier, and he would rather live in Hawke's Bay tlian in any other part oi New Zealand. Oue could go any where, he said, and one would not meet better people. It was a great break to leave all his friends here, but it was his intention, when it came time for him to retire, 'to return and reside in Napier, where he would have the chance of picking up the" threads oi all his old iribiidsuips again. Moreover, he -would always be just as pleased to meet any of the hrm's clients in Wellington as lie had always been in H.BMr Moodie then expressd his great appreciation to Mr and Mrs Scott for their gifts, which, he said, would always remind him of his very fine Maori clients and friends. It was hard to cxpiess adequate appreciation of the kai dsome gift of crystal from the cli- n •>. but he wou.f trcasme if, the memory oi the donors, until th« end of his days. The. chairman at this juncture proposed a toast to Mr C. J. Agar, who had organised the iunction. Mr Agar, in his reply,- said he was very pleased to have the opportunity of assuring Mr Moodie that the wkole idea was the clients' own. His part in the organisation had been purely formal. Mr Moodie said h© regretted tbat his successor, Mr H. D. Cooper, had not been able to be present, but he could give his personal assurance that they could look for every consideration and full support from that quarter. Several apologies from clients who were unable to be present were read. Afternoon tea was served as a preliminary to the presentation ceremony, and the proceedings concluded with tlie singing of "Auld Lane Svue."