YEARS OF SERVICE

Southland Times, Issue 21095, 29 May 1930, Page 8

YEARS OF SERVICE

GLENHAM RESIDENT HONOURED. MR D. C. McKENZIE’S ACTIVITIES. The inclement weather last evening proved no deterrent to the residents of Glenham who assembled in the district hall to do honour to Mr Duncan C. McKenzie, who has severed his connection with the district after having served the residents as storekeeper and in many other capacities for 20 years. The farewell function took the form of a banquet over which Mr R. J. Irwin presided, The evening proved a very enjoyable one, and many stories of the early days of the district were told and old friendships renewed. He was pleased to see such a representative gathering on such an unfavourable night, said Mr Irwin. They were there to do honour to Mr McKenzie, who" had been in the community for about 20 years and had done a’great deal for the district. The hall- they were in was one of the things which bore silent testimony to Mr McKenzie’s interest in the district and it was only one of the many things which he had worked for.

After the loyal toast had been duly honoured, Mr E. Johansen proposed “Parliament," and in doing so said that he did not think the Parliament of to-day was equal to the Parliament of the earlier days. He was of the opinion that a member of Parliament should go to Parliament to serve his constituents first and his country next, but many of the present day politicians forgot their country in party. In replying to the toast Mr D. McDougall, M.P., said that it was many years since he had first met the guest of the evening, and he had always found him a regular, good Scotsman and a Scotsman was always a good “cronie.” He thanked them for the way they had honoured the toast. He had gone into Parliament and had learned many things, but the hardest thing he had had to learn was to be lazy; to eat and sleep, and sleep and eat. For an active' man Parliament was a “fearful place.” There was nothing but a waste of time.

Continuing, Mr McDougall gave witty details of the work of Parliament. A member had told him that he had a good “cheek” because he was only a new member of the House. He had replied that he. might be a new member of the House, but he was an old member of the country. He had been told by an old politician that the last session of Parliament compared favourably with the majority of previous sessions and he was going to keep them all at work and all would be well. They had all heard that Sir Joseph Ward had resigned, but they had put a solid, cautious, honest farmer, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, in'his place and he hoped they would give him a good chance.

In conclusion Mr McDougall said that he was glad to be present to honour Mr McKenzie, and he wished him and his wife long life and happiness in their retirement. The toast of agriculture was proposed by Mr C. H. Hunter, who said that it seemed to him that farming was one of the most important industries in the country and was becoming a science. Mr W. Diack responded to the toast.

The main toast of the evening, “Our Guest,” was proposed by Mr E. C. Johansen, who said that the opinion in the district was divided concerning whether they should give Mr McKenzie a farewell or not, because he had not completely severed his connections with the district. Mr McKenzie had been a resident of th'e district for about 20 years and he was the “livest” man who had ever been in the district. He had taken an interest and a' share in everything concerning the district, and had attended to both‘the social and business life of the community. He had been one, of the prime movers in the movement for the erection of the hall they were in. He had been a trustee, chairman and treasurer and there was general regret when he severed his connection with the Hall Committee. Mr McKenzie had also inaugurated the local Draughts Club and had had the temerity to challenge Invercargill with the result that they had lost a round and won a round. Mr McKenzie had also been the industrial barohieter of Glenham and had done a great deal for the farming community. It had always been the custom in the district to honour those who worked for the good of the district and they had decided to hold the social they were enjoying Mr Johansen expressed the regret of everyone present at the unavoidable absence of Mrs McKenzie and he asked Mr McKenzie to convey the good wishes of the district to Mrs McKenzie. In conclusion Mr Johansen, on behalf of the residents of the district, presented Mr McKenzie with a gold watch suitably inscribed. Mr D. McDougall added his word of praise to Mr Johansen’s remarks and Messrs T. Davidson, C. H. Hunter, W. Bennett, T. Hunter, J. Scott, J. Templeton and R. J. Irwin also spoke. Mr Irwin said that Mr McKenzie had always been 1 whole-heartedly for the good of the district and nothing was too much trouble to him. In business he was always fair and his dealings were always above Board.

- Speaking in reply Mr McKenzie, who was greeted by prolonged applause, said that

he was very pleased to be present. The honours showered upon him were more than he had expected. He had never realized that he was such a good fellow. He was more than pleased with the handsome memento they had given him. He was sorry that Mrs McKenzie could not be present. It was with deep regret, Mr McKenzie said, that he severed his connections with the district. It had been said that he had made a lot of money in Glenham but, if they took his disastrous “specks” into consideration, they would realize that he had not made much. Mrs McKenzie had sent them all her very best wishes and thanks and he added his thanks also and assured them that they would always remember the pleasant days they had spent in Glenham. (Applause.) A number of other toasts were honoured, and during the evening songs were given by Messrs B. Bennie, J. Scott, R. Tutty, G. Sloan and D. McDougall and recitations by Messrs R. Tutty and J. Rabbidge.