LONG SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1921, Page 5

LONG SERVICE.

RAILWAY MAN HONORED. RETIREMENT OF GUARD BOWZE. Railwaymen in New Plymouth gathered at the Workers’ Social Hall last night to farewell Mr. Dan Bowie, a respected member of the service, who is retiring on superannuation. Mr. Bowie, who has been forty years with the department, and holds the distinction of being the oldest guard in the service, came to New Plymouth from Christchurch about twenty years ago. There was an attendance of about fifty, the stationmaster (Mr. J. J. O’Shea) presiding. A lengthy toast list, commencing with the loyal toast, was honored, and was interspersed with numerous musical items. “Kindred Societies” was proposed by Mr. Warren, who referred to the need for closer amalgamation between the three branches of the service. Responses were made by Mr. Donovan (Railway Officers’ Association), Mr. Francis (A.S.R.S.) and Mr. Donohue (ET.C.A.), all of whom stressed the advantages of amalgamation. Mr. L. Smith (Public Service Association) also replied, urging the need for more unity, socially or otherwise, between the various branches of the Public Service.

“The Guest of the Evening” was proposed by Mr. O’Shea, who remarked that the splendid attendance of so many members of the service was a tribute to the high esteem in which Mr. Bowie was held. Indeed, were it not such a busy season, there would have been a large number present from right down the line. It was with mixed feelings that he was speaking, because in losing Mr. Bowie, who was senior guard, and a conscientious, thorough, hardworking man, who was always there and did his bit, he felt it was a personal loss. Mr. Bowie was well known throughout New Zealand, having joined the department at Timaru forty years ago. After having been stationed at Waikari, Oxford, Fairlie and again at Timaru, he had come to New Plymouth twenty years ago. He had been' a good mate and a good guard, and up till a month or two ago held his own with the most robust guard along the line. He had never shirked a shunt, and after going through what he had for the past forty years as a railwayman he was well entitled to the rest provided for by superannuation. The railway service was the most strenuous of the public services, and he must have had a cast iron constitution and a good head to have pulled through. On all hands members of the public spoke highly of the esteem and respect in which Mr. Bowie was held. On behalf of the staff he presented Mr. Bowie with a handbag for Mrs. Bowie and a well-filled wallet for himself, expressing the hope that he would come back restored to health as a result of his three months’ tour of the Dominion.

Other speakers also piid their tribute to the guest. Mr. S. G. Smith characterised him as an absolutely straight-forward man, who never left a job on the road for the man behind him if he could do the job. If representative public men had had an opportunity of speaking, he knew from travelling on the line that they would have paid their tribute. As a guard, Mr. Bowie had carried out his duties in an unassuming way, and had not been officious, nor had he tried to find trouble, always giving those who made a genuine mistake an opportunity to rectify it. He would have made an ideal ticket inspector. He felt that Mr. Bowie was leaving the service with the clear consciousness that he had always done his duty. (Applause.) Messrs. Beck, P. Tunbridge, Jacob Mander, Young, Meta Kingi, Gibson, Lash and Garcia also spoke, the last-named stating that it was the intention of those who frequently travelled on the trains to show their appreciation of Mr. Bowie’s courteous consideration to the travelling public. Mr Bowie, who was greeted with applause, expressed his appreciation of the splendid gathering and the presentations which had been made to Mrs. Bowie and himself. He said that he felt the wrench at severing his connection with the service, after so many years. On resuming his seat he was accorded musical honors.

Other toasts were: “The Ladies”, proposed by Mr. Beck and responded to by Mr. Trevella; “The Press”, proposed by Mr. O’Brien and responded to by the representatives of the Herald and News; “The Chairman”, proposed by Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P.

Those who contributed to the excellent programme were Messrs. P. Tunbridge, Len Smith, Wilson, E. A. Richards, Trevella, Warren, Scorrar and Chandler (songs and recitations), F. Guscott. (violin solo), and the orchestra under Conductor Rennie. Mr. Bellringer played the accompaniments. The gathering ended with the National Anthem and Auld Lang Syne. The committee responsible, of which Mr. Burrell was secretary, is to be congratulated on the suceess of the fuuetiojfc