POWER BOARD ENTERTAINED.

Shannon News, 20 December 1929, Page 4

POWER BOARD ENTERTAINED.

GUESTS OF THE RETIRING I SECRETARY. SEASON'S GREETINGS EXCHANGED. A sociable scene was presented during an interval in the business of the Horowhenua Power Board on Tuesday, when the retiring secretary, Mr P. W. Goldsmith, entertained the members to Vhat he had termed, in his verbal invitation, "a cup of tea," out what was really rather a sumptuous repast.

The occasion was taken by the Chairman (Mr G. A. Monk) to refer to the fact that this was the last meeting of the Board at which Mr Goldsmith would be present in his official capacity, though he would remain on the staff until February next; the Board had granted him leave of absence from the end of this year until that time, on account of holidays which he had not taken. It was. proposed by the Board, and the staff to ask him to be with them at the next meeting, and on that occasion it was proposed to make him a small presentation in token of the friendship which they had towards him . The Chairman added that he would defer his remarks on behalf of the Board until then. He wished now to convey to the Board and staff the season's greetings, and he trusted that the next year would be a very happy and prosperous one for them all. He moved a very hearty vote of thanks to Mr Golydsmith for having treated them so generously on this occasion. The motion was carried by acclamation.

In response, Mr Goldsmith said that, as he would not be present in his official capacity the following Christmas, he had thought it fitting to ask the Board to have a cup of tea with him, and if they were pleased, he was more i than satisfied. i The Chairman also, extended the compliments of the season to the Press, whom he thanked for their attentivenesis to the proceedings of the Board, at which their attendance was in the nature of a mutual benefit. . Mr A. eSifert expressed seasonabJ* wishes to the Chairman, who, he said had looked after the Board well an:l guided its affairs in an agreeable and able way. ' Altogether this had been a very pleasant year for the members, and at this period they, looked forward with happy feelings to the future. They would all wish the Chairman a merry Christmas and a very prosperous New Year. Speaking of Mr Goldsmith, Mr Seifert said it had always been a pleasure to work on the Board with that gentleman as secretary; he was an example of the benefit which work gave to a man, because he had always been attentive to his duties. His energy also seemed to show that Levin had a remarkably good climate, and on looking at him one'wondered why he wa3 going Is retire. . The speaker also extended felicitous greetings to the Board's Engineer, Mr J. A. Smith.

Mr C. Blenkhorn endorsed Mr Seifert ; s remarks; he was satisfied with his Chairman, and hoped that that gentleman and his family would enjoy in the coming year an even fuller measure of prosperity than in the past. The speaker endorsed the praise given to Mr Goldsmith, and gave his greetings to Mr Smith and the staff. ; The Engineer had not failed the Board once; his monthly reports were a treat tc read; there was always reference to new consumers, and no complaints, in the correspondence which came before the Board, were received from any of its customers—a fact which spoke volumes for Mr Smith and his staff. Congratulations were also due to £he office staff; latterly, he thought they had not had enough to do, but possibly they would have more to do in the future and would be more satisfied with their positions. The Press kept the Board in the public c-ye, and reported very correctly its doings. Mr" Smith thanked the speakers for their kind remarks about himself an<l the staff. When they found their efforts appreciated in this way, it was ample reward for what they had tried to do.

The Chairman asked for a few word? from Mr F. J. Ramsay, who has been promoted from the position of account ant to succeed Mr Goldsmith as secretary and treasurer. Mr Ramsay said he had not proposed making a speech at this gathering, but when the official farewell to Mr Goldsmith took place he would hav something to say concerning thett relations during the period of eighr years in which they had been' associated. This was the first opportunity he had had to thank the members of the Board for the confidence they had shown in him by' appointing him to the office which Mr Goldsmith would vacate in -about a month. He asked them to accept his thanks on behalf of the staff for the kindly greetings which members had extended to them.

Mr E. 8. Morse, who is still suffering some of the effects of an accident, offered his thanks to the Chairman and the Board for sympathetic inquiries, and to Mr Smith for land attentions during the time when the speaker was incapacitated. The Chairman said he ( was very pleased to see Mr Morse present with the Board again.