VALEDICTORY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8879, 13 November 1907, Page 5

VALEDICTORY.

RETIREMENT OP THE COUNTY CHAIRMAN. At the close of the noting of the JMasterton County Council, yesterday, the chairman (Cr C. E. CockburnHood) announced that, as he would shortly be taking; a trip to the Old Country, this would be the last occasion on which he would preside at the council. He wished to express his thanks to the councillors for their loyalty to the chair, and when he returned nis services would, lie said, still be at the disposal of the ratepayers should they be desired. He wished also to express his appreciation of the services of the staff, mentioning in particular what a valuable officer the council had in their clerk, Mr F. G. Moore. The only one fault to be found with Mr Moore was that he worked too hard, and he ought to be compelled to take a holiday. For that reason he would suggest that the County offices should be closed for a month in December because as long as the offices were open Mr Moore would still be at his work. He also thought the engineer was entitled to a holiday, and considered that that officer worked far harder that most people were aware. Crs Toogood, Welch and Murray made euldgistic reference to the manner in which the chairman had loyally carried out his duty to the ratepayers, and also made similar references to the staff. The former, however, thought that a month would be too long to keep the offices closed. He suggested that they should be closed for a fortnight in December, as usual, but in order that Mr Moore mi.?ht enjoy his holiday, another man should be engaged during his absence, so that the work would not accumulate. Mr Moore, in reply, said he had grown old in the service of the council and did not really care whether he had Hi holiday or not. He was in excellent health, and would like the council to let' him take a holiday only if he really needed it. Eventually the council decided to close the offices for a fortnight, and the earnest hope was expressed that Mr Moore would take a well-earned holiday. He was also given power to arrange for a man to carry on his work in his absence, should ha choose to take [advantage of the council's offer.