VALEDICTORY.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 259, 25 October 1928, Page 4

VALEDICTORY.

MR. A. W. SWAP. Owing to the extremely short notice of his transfer, and the fact that he was temporarily relieving at Morrinsville at the time, it was found impossible to arrange the usual “ evening ” in order to bid good-bye to Mr. Swap, who had been postmaster at Putaruru for the past year. However, on Thursday at a few minutes’ notice a few friends gathered and conveyed to Mr 7 . 'Swap the regret of citizens- at his departure and their good wishes for' the future.

Mr. A. C. Thompson, manager of the Putaruru branch of the Bank of New Zealand, said Mr. Swap had been a friend to all. He had always been obliging and efficient and his place would be hard to fill. Not only had Mr. Swap made a name for himself in the post office but he had proved to be a fine sportsman and identified himself with several sporting bodies in the town. The speaker wished Mr. Swap every success in his new position.

Mr. J. R. O. Lochhead said Mr. Swap was universally liked, and the speaker felt sure there would be real regret when it was generally known throughout the district that he had gone. Nothing had been too much trouble to him and he was universally popular. They were very sorry to lose him but his rapid promotion gave them great pleasure. The old saying that one town’s loss was another’s gain was very true in this case, and Wairoa was gaining a most excellent postmaster. The speaker hoped Mr. Swap’s promotion would continue so that he would shortly be at Hamilton in charge of the district.

Mr. K. McDermott, vice chairman of the Putaruru Town Board, saiii that one of the outstanding attributes of their guest was his courtesy to all. No matter what the request, or when the time, or even whether he had to firmly refuse anything, it was always done in an extremely courteous manner. Mr. Swap would be very hard to replace and the speaker felt sure he would be greatly missed. He wished him every success in his new appointment.

Mr. G. G. Griffiths, chairman of the Town Board, stressed the fact that few knew of Mr. Swap’s departure. He felt sure all the members of the Chamber of Commerce would have been present had they known- of Mr. Swap’s departure, for their guest’s attitude to the chamber had been such as to merit its general goodwill. The town was a great loser but all would be genuinely pleased to hear of Mr. Swap’s rapid rise. Under his guidance the Putaruru post office had bristled with efficiency. On behalf of a few friends the speaker then presented Mr. Swap with a case of pipes as a small token of esteem, which he hoped would remind the recipient ot his stay in Putaruru.

In a brief reply Mr. Swap said he felt somewhat surprised at the nice remarks which been made. In his opinion it was the duty of any civil servant to first of all be courteous, and he saw no reason why this attitude should not be maintained even when turning down a request. If he had been of assistance to the Chamber of Commerce he was pleased, but he had always been able to recommend the chamber’s requests because it had never asked for anything unreasonable. He Was sorry in one way to leave Putaruru, for he had made many fine friends, but a “ step up ” was a big consideration. He was a heavy smoker and so there was no fear of him forgetting his friends in Putaruru, and he would treasure their fine present, for which he thanked them. Musical honours followed, after which several of those present saw Mr. Swap off on the evening express, on which he left direct for Wairoa.