HIGH TRIBUTES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1059, 25 August 1930, Page 14

HIGH TRIBUTES

FAREWELL TO RETIRING RAILWAY MAN PRESENTATIONS MADE More than 100 railwaymen attended a smoke concert held in the Railway Social Hall on Saturday evening to bid farewell to Mr. J. D. Keen, coaching foreman, who is retiring after 40 years’ service with the department. Mr. A. J. Lowe, ex-president of the •Auckland branch of the amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, presided. Mr. E. Casey, divisional superintendent of the North Island, presented a wallet of, to use his own words, “attractive examples of the engraver’s art” to Mr. Keen and a silver teapot to be handed to' Mrs. Keen. Mr. Casey assured Mr. Keen of the appreciation of the administrative heads of the Railway Department on his completion of 40 years’ faithful, good and honourable service. Mr. Casey congratulated Mr. Keen on being able to retire in Auckland. “This city seems to bo the Mecca of retired railway men,” he declared. “I don’t know whether it is the climate, but they seem to drift here from all directions.” Tributes were also paid to Air. Keen by Mr. H. E. Adams, stationmaster, Air. F. Alunn, secretary of the Auckland branch of the A.S.R.S., for the guards. Air. J. Williamson, for the Railway Officers’ Institute, Air. M. Benney, for the superannuated officers. Air. H. Walmsley, for the porters. Air. A. E. Whisker, for % the shunters, Air. W. Nicholson, from the locomotive running sheds, Air. M. Guthrie, for the train examiners, and Mr. H. Smith, president of the Auckland branch of the Superannuated Public Servants’ Association. Letters were also read from Air. H. H. Sterling. General Manager, and Mr. J. G. Rickerby, District Traffic Manager. Returning thanks, Air. Keen entertained his audience with a flow of amusing reminiscence.