WORK FOR THE TOWN.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1919, Page 6

WORK FOR THE TOWN.

RETIREMENT OF THE MAYOR. A HANDSOME PRESENTATION. RECOGNITION OF MRS. BURGESS' SERVICES. A very pleasant function, which was attended by a large gathering of representative citizens, took place at the Bungalow, Kawaroa Park, yesterday afternoon, when a presentation Was made to Mr. C. H. Burgess, in recognition of their services to the town during the term of their occupation of the offices of Mayor and Mayoress. The Deputy Mayor (Mr. W. A. Collis), who presided, after referring to the entertainment of Mr. and Mrs. Burgess by the members of the council, said yesterday's gathering was one representative of the citizens of the town, and also an evidence of the esteem in which the guests were held in the whole district. When Mr. and Mrs. Burgess took office he did not suppose they had any idea of the magnitude to which the work which came ' with the commencement of the war would grow, or of the immense sacrifices that it would entail. Everyone was aware of the work done by Mr. and Mrs. Burgess during the war. He knew himself that they were often too tired to go home, and stayed in town sometimes for days, and worked late and early, not sparing themselves in any way. The gathering was an expression of appreciation of their work during all the war activities of the town. Those who had been associated with Mrs. Burgess knew the work that had been done by the women of New Plymouth under her direction.

He believed he was right in saying that from the Women's Patriotic Committee rooms there had been 15,000 parcels sent out to the boys at the front. (Applause.) Appreciation of those parcels had been expressed in letters from boys belonging to all parts of New Zealand, and also from those in some other branches, of the service, and showed how much they had been cheered up by them. And not only were the boys grateful, but the mothers and fathers of the whole district appreciated the service that had sent out those parcels. When the armistice was signed no doubt Mr. and Mrs. Burgess thought that they would then get a little spell from their strenuous work, but immediately on top of those celebrations camu the epidemic outbreak, and the work done by the Mayor and Mayoress iu connection with that was sufficiently fresh in the memory of all, and there were many who had strong reasons for thanking Mr. and Mrs. Burgess for the splendid result of their efforts, which he thought were worthy of special mention.

They were now retiring from office. Too often people forgot to show appreciation of good work done until people were dead and gone. But the people of New Plymouth had risen to the occasion and taken time by the forelock, and had determined to show their appreciation of Mr. and Mrs. Burgess' services in a practical way. He had pleasure, -on behalf of the citizens, in asking them to accept a solid silver canteen tea and coffee service, as a mark of appreciation and tangible expression of the esteem in which they were held for their services to the town during their office' as Mayor and Mayoress. (Applause.) HELPING THE SOLDIERS. The Veil. Archdeacon Evans, on behalf of the returned soldiers, supplemented what the chairman had said regarding the war work of the Mayor and Mayoress. He explained, first, that in the short space of time available it had not been possible to wait on a larger number of citizens for support to the presentation. He was quite sure that the response would have been equally as liberal, if they had, as it had been on the part of those who had been approached. He had never known anything got up in New Plymouth which ha - ', been subscribed to more readily. He was glad to say the returned soldiers, for whom both Mr. and Mrs. Burgess had done so much, had had a part in subscribing to the presentation. Those who had helped Mrs. Burges3 in her work at the rooms had no idea of the appreciation of the men at the fron; or in the rest camps, and they could feel that the presentation to Mrs. Burgess was a recognition of their work. He assured Mr. and Mrs. Burgess of the sympathy, love, and gratitude' of the people of the district, which was more than any present, such as that offered, could be to them. He referred to the constancy of Mr. and Mrs. Burgess both in farewelling and welcoming home the boys, and said enough could not be done to recognise that work. He also spoke of the establishment of the Soldiers' Club, and the great boon it had been to the returned men, and for its inception Mrs. Burgess was largely responsible (Applause.) PROGRESS OF THE TOWN. Mr. Burgess, who was very heartily applauded upon rising, said ho sometimes wondered if he was dreaming when he heard all the nice things that had been said about himself. He expressed thanks for the. kind words of appreciation of Mrs. Burgess' and his services. They had not taken up oilice with any view of receiving rewards at the end of their term. The citizens had expressed confidence in them, and, as the chief citizens of the town, they had to live up to that. He acknowledged that the four years of office had been strenuous years. Therfe had been long hours, but it had been their duty, and they had to give the citizens a lead. In the matter of war work, Mrs. Burgess had had the heavy end of the stick. He as Mayor had had the borough staff, and as a business man had his own staff, when he wanted any work done, but Mrs. Burgess had no staff, and those who had worked with her voluntarily had proved very loyal helpers. There had been many expressions of appreciation of their work during their term of office, and that would have been quite sufficient for them. The citizens, however, had seen differently frou) that. He was very pleased that the council had given them a little send-off. Notwithstanding all the many differences they had had, it showed that they finished up on friendly terms. Although they were going out of office they were not going to Ipse tpuch with New Plymouth. Mr. Burgess then referred to the progress he saw the town commencing to make. During the war the town had held back, but now, in common with other towns, it was experiencing the forward movement that was taking place everywhere. He thought the next few years would be amongst the most important in the history of the town of New Plymouth, and what was wanted was th« but men of the oommunity to guide i

and steer the town aright. There would be a great amount of work to do, but he was convinced the men were here who could carry it on. The town had advantages that no other (own had. He hoped the young men would come forward, and the young women too, and take a pride in their town and in its work. If they did, tliey would see others begin to take an interest in and look after what belonged to the community. He thought the young men of the town could do the best work for it, and he smilingly remarked that with an old councillor like Cr. Collis to keep a check on them they would not come to much harm. (Laughter.) Mr. Burgess concluded with a renewed expression of thanks for the appreciation of their services, and for the gift presented to them. (Applause.) WOMEN'S WAR WORK. Mrs. Burgess, from whom a speech wag demanded, was vigorously applauded. She said she wished to take the opportunity to thank the women of New Plymouth and of the country districts for the help they had given throughout the whole period. They were usually eredited with having done four years' tvork, but it was five years on August 6 last since they commenced work —on the Monday morning after war had been declared—and they had never ceased during the whole time. Mrs. Eberlet was the only woman in the room who liad been right through the whole work With her. They commenced at 9 o'clock on the Monday morning, and on the Wednesday following they had made 67 Itoldalls for the first lot of men who were going away. The Victoria League commenced the work, which had been carried on by the Patriotic Committee after she and Mr. Burgess took office. She hoped the work would be carried on now, as there was ample need, even though the War was over. She had only recently been asked by letter to help a family Who were in very real need, and she instanced the case as one of the kind in which the townswomcn could unite in helping their fellows. She. reminded the gathering that there were many ways in which the war liad shown that the women could be of very real service in a community. After a short rest, to which she thought she was entitled, she intend* ed to return to work, and hoped the women would continue to join with her, and follow up what had been said during the afternoon by acting. She could never forget what the women had been like. Religion had been in evidence at the Patriotic Rooms every moment Of the day (applause), "and," concluded Mrs. Burgess, "if we can continue being good and doing good, that is the kind of religion that counts." (Applause.) At the call of the chairman, cheers were given for Mr. and Mrs. Burgess. Afternoon tea was then served, a number of High School girls helping, and during the afternoon music was contributed by Mrs. Wood's Orchestra.