POPULAR CITIZEN.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 14 April 1926, Page 9

POPULAR CITIZEN.

MR M. J. DOYLE HONOURED. FAREWELL AND PRESENTATION. A large and very representative gathering of business and professional people assembled in the boardroom of the C.F.C.A., yesterday afternoon to bid good-bye to Mr M. J. Doyle, general manager of "The Timaru Herald” Company, and to make a presentation to him, on the eve of his departure on a visit to Britain and the Continent. The Mayor (Mr G. .T. Wallace) presided, and in happy vein, on behalf of the town, wished Mr Doyle bon voyage. Several apologies for absence were read, including one from the Rev. Father Hurley, and one from Dr. J. R. Loughnan (Fairlie). The Mayor went on to say that Mr Doyle might well take as a compliment the presence of such a large gathering in his honour. Such a gathering indicated that Mr Doyle’s work as general manager of the “Timaru Herald” had been appreciated by the. business people of Timaru, (Hear, hear.) The Mayor said that while lie had not always eeen eye to eye with Mr Doyle, on public questions, he had always entertained the greatest respect for him, and appreciated what lie liad done on behalf of the town. It was men like Mr Doyle that Timaru wanted—men of progressive ideas and with irrepressible enthusiasm and vigour to give effect to them. They all regretted Mr Doyle’s temporary indisposition; sincerely hoped that his trip to the Homeland would completely restore his health; and that he, would return to Timaru to resume his old position as a prominent figure in the town, for many years, and continue his good work on behalf of Timaru and district. The Mayor then asked Mr Doyle’s acceptance of a pair of prismatic binoculars, 1 in an inscribed leather case, remarking that though they hoped the binoculars would be of service to him on his travels, they found it hard to imagine that they would enable him to see any more than his sharp eyes already made possible. They wished both Mr and Mrs Doyle a very pleasant trip abroad, and a speedy return to Timaru. (Applause;) Mr P. B. Foote (president of the bouth Canterbury Chamber of Commerce), said that Mr Doyle had associated himself very closely with the commercial interests of the town and district, and the Chamber learned with regret that his health had not been of the best. They all sincerely hoped that his visit abroad •w-puld afford him the rest which he needed and which he had richly eai nfed, and that he would return to Timaru in his pristine health and vigour. Mr Doyle was not, only a keen worker on behalf of (he townee was also an optimist of the front rank, and < one who showed his confidence in the town by investing his money in it. He was one of the type they could not afford to lose, and though they were willing to part from him for a time, while he renewed his health, they hoped to see him back amongst them at the earliest possible time. In the meantime they ■wished Mr and Mrs Doyle the best possible holiday. (Applause.) Mr ffm. Raymond paid a high tribute to Mr Doyle as a business man. He had done business with him for many years, and had never once had a point of difference with him, his word at ail times being as good as his bond. Mr Doyle was a man who would have risen to the top of the tree in a city of far greater proportions thqn Timaru. Full of vim and energy, and possessed of a, keen analytical mind, ivith business acumen beyond the ordinary, he was a man whose very presence spelt success, and they admired him for this and were grateful to him for what he had done for the town and dis-’ (Hear, hear.) As a member of the Timaru Borough Council he had done much good work, and it V’ns the same w-ith everything he took in hand—lie did it thoroughly and well. They all knew what an unqualified success he had made of the business of thd company of which he was general manager—the “Timaru Herald” Company—and they wished him a very pleasant holiday arid complete restoration to health (Applause.)

Mr Herbert Hall, in endorsing the good wishes of previous speakers, said that if it were true that a prophet had no honour in his own country, it was equally true that a native of Tiniaru could show faith in his own town. They knew that Mr Doyle had shown such faith in a very marked degree. A man of such a keen mind and observant eye would see touch to interest him in his travels abroad, and they hoped most sincerely that he would come back to them renewed in bodily and mental vigoui and continue to fill for many years the place in. the town’s activities which he had filled with such conspicuous success' in the oust (Hear, hear.) Mr Hall went on In lighter vein to reJate some reminiscences ol* his own recent travels in other lands, and said that with all sincerity they wished Mr and Mrs Doyle a first-class lime, and that when they relumed, Mr Doyle would continue his management of the “Timaru Herald" and continue to enjoy the esteem of his l'eliow citizens in robust health. (Applause.) Mr Richard Shillito said it was about twenty years since be bad first made the acquaintance of Mr Doyle who, by succeeding stages, bad risen from the position of clerk to that of genera! manager, and also of director, of the “ Timaru Herald” Company. This was

no mean feat, and if they examined Mr Doyle’s methods they would find, that he had attained success by merit and hard and consistent work. No, doubt his health was not of the best, and their earnest wish was that he would return to them completely restored in health. Mr Shillitto also referred to Mr Doyle’s'line example in the dark days of the war, when, instead of being afraid, like most other people, that tlie bottom was going to drop out of everything, he bought land and built houses, aiut thereby helped to restore confidence and provide work. On behalf of the builders of 'Timaru he wished now to publicly thank Mr Doyle for the good service that he had rendered them in,this respect. (Hear, hear.) They all wished him a pleasant voyage, aud hoped that lie would return to them in the best of health. (Applause.) The Mayor said that was the wish of everyone in the town and district; (Hear, hear.) On rising to reply, Mr Doyle was greeted with prolonged applause. When this had subsided he offered the company his heartfelt thanks for the handsome present they had given him, and especially, for the kindly sentiments by which it was accompanied. He deprecated the flattering references that had been made to him, and said he felt all unworthy of them. He had merely done his best according to his lights. He ielt something of a Main. Street man, but recognised that town and country interests were indissolubly bound up, and in trying to promote the interests of both he bad done as well as be could. He bad served on the Timaru Borough Council, tlio Employers’ Association, bad been president of the Chamber of Commerce, founder of the Timaru branch of the Second Division League, and the Timaru Citizens’ Association, and had always considered it a pleasure to do what lie could for Timaru and South Canterbury. (Hear, hear.) Referring to his work on behalf of the ‘‘Timaru Herald,” Mr' Doyle said he had been guided by and acted in fullest co-operation with Mr E. G. Kerr, aud had received nothing but kindness from the Kerr family. To one and all he desired to convey his heartfelt thanks, on behalf of Mrs Doyle and himself. (Applause.) Mr and Mrs Doyle will leave Tiniaru to-morrow.