POPULAR POSTMASTER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 October 1938, Page 6

POPULAR POSTMASTER

MR J. D. O’CONNOR FAREWELLED TRIBUTES BY THE STAFF. On the occasion of the retirement of the Masterton Postmaster, Mr J. D. O’Connor, after the completion of over 40 years’ service in the Post and Telegraph Department, the combined staffs of the various branches of the Post Office and of the Engineering Branch met to farewell Mr O’Connor yesterday afternoon. Speaking on behalf of the officers in the district, the accountant of the Savings Bank. Mr A. G. Wiltshire, said it was with sincere regret that the staff was parting officially with Mr O’Connor. Although he had been in office only a comparatively short period, Mr O’Connor had won and held the highest' esteem and full cooperation of the staff. He wished Mr and Mrs O’Connor and family many happy and prosperous years and a full measure of good health. Other branch controlling officers endorsed the sentiments expressed by Mr Wiltshire and extended to Mr O’Connor the good wishes of their respective staffs. Those who spoke were Mr J. F. Donnelly (Telegraph Branch and Telephone Exchange), Mr J. Stitt (Engineering Branch), Mr A. Osborne and Mr L. G. Gill (Postal Branch), Mr W. P. Butler (Automatic Exchange), and Mr W. H. King (Clerical Branch). Mr Wiltshire then presented Mr O’Connor with a handsome picnic hamper and electric water jug as tokens of the goodwill and high esteem of the fellow officers Mr O’Connor was leaving in the service at Masterton. In reply, Mr O’Connor said he was concluding his official career embracing 40£ years’ service in the Post and Telegraph Department. He had attended many farewells, in various capacities, but today it was no easy matter for him to sever his connection with a very loyal and efficient staff and with the Department. He had enjoyed during his term of office in Masterton a wonderful co-operation of the entire local staff, which could not be excelled anywhere, and he felt sure that his successor would also receive the same high standard of efficiency and loyalty which had ensured the smooth running of the office and for which he was fully grateful. He requested the acting-Postmas-ter to convey this opinion to Mr Simpson, the newly-appointed Postmaster. Proceeding, Mr O’Connor said that, happily, his farewell was only an official one, , as he intended to continue to reside meanwhile in Masterton. On behalf of Mrs O’Connor and his daughter, he thanked the staff for its generous expression of good wishes, which were deeply appreciated. The function concluded with three hearty cheers for Mr O’Connor and another for Mrs O’Connor and daughter.