Wallingford/Jarlov Family Trees

MR T.D. TAYLOR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 9205, 28 January 1918, Page 2

MR T.D. TAYLOR.
A PUBLIC FAREWELL

PROMINENT CITIZENS' TRIBUTE

A large and representative gathering; of public residents in Ashburton and County assembled in the Borough Council Chambers on Saturday afternoon, for the purpose of presenting Mr T. D. Taylor, who has relinquished the editorship of the "Mail" and "Guardian," with an illuminated address and a purse of "sovereigns." The Mayor" (Mr R. Galbraith) presided. The gathering included several lady members of the Red Cross Society and representatives of the W.C.T.U.

Before making the presentation, the Mayor read the following apologies:

Telegram from Mr Robert Bell: "Greatly regret pressure of business precludes me from attending function to join in honouring a loyal colleague and a good friend. I am very sorry that Mr Taylor's services and abilities are in the future to be lost to journalism, and sincerely hope he will speedily rise to a position of prominence in the Public Service of the country."

From H. P. Nicoll: "I regret I will be unable to attend your meeting this afternoon. Will you kindly express my good wishes to Mr Taylor for his future career, and also say how much I have been interested in the leading articles he has written from time to time. The independence of tone, lucidity of expression, and the sturdy common sense of Mr Taylor's articles have, been a decided acquisition to the County, and have considerably helped to elevate the standing of our local paper.

From Mr. T. Cairns, Chairman of the Ashburton County Council: "I much regret that owing to the urgency of my farming operations and the uncertainty of the weather, I find it impossible to attend your meeting as I had desired. In tendering my apology, may I add that I am pleased to find that Mr Taylor's services have been appreciated in the community as is evidenced by the desire that he should not be allowed to leave Ashburton without some acknowledgment of his services."

Telegram from Mr R. B. Bell, Wellington: "Regret distance prevents my joining gathering today in honouring Mr Taylor, who was for four years my loyal colleague, and always an esteemed friend and a white man. Good luck to him and his."

The following list of gentlemen who sent apologies was also read by the Mayor: Messrs D.G. Wright, H. P. Madden. R. S. Forsyth. R. Kennedy, J. C. N. Grigg, R. A. Collins. W. H. Lynn, E. F. J. Grigg, T. Bullock, J. Tucker, and G. H. Harle.

THE MAYOR'S TRIBUTE.

In making the presentation the Mayor said most people did not care to have to say good-bye to friends. He regretted that Mr Taylor and his family were about to leave Ashburton. He had known Mr Taylor for a period of live years, and during the whole of that time he (Mr Taylor) had taken a very live interest in the public affairs of the community. During the time the speaker had been Mayor he could safely say that Mr Taylor had not spared the council at all. At times he (the speaker) and his fellow councillors felt that they had been hit very hard, but after due consideration they had come to the conclusion that what Mr Taylor had written had been for the welfare of the many. He felt confident that if the town was not better now it was not Mr Taylor's fault. He had always kept before the public the necessity for better sanitation and other matters in connection with the welfare of the Borough, and the community had been very fortunate in having in their midst a man like Mr Taylor. The speaker also paid a tribute to Mr Taylor's valuable assistance towards the various patriotic funds which had been raised in the town and district, and said that the work in connection with helping the Red Cross and Lady Liverpool societies bad also been a labour of love. (Hear, hear). Mr Taylor had declared that one fund had not benefited to the extent which he would like to see. The fund referred to was the Tobacco Fund for the boys at the front. The Mayor contended that the parents knew that when their sons wore in the care of the Red Cross they were in good hands, and it was before they reached that stage that they wanted some little consideration and comfort from those at home, he contended that the public should be only too willing to assist the fighting men in every possible way by subscribing to buy them comforts. In conclusion, the Mayor stated that no doubt the government knew the value of Mr Taylor when it had enticed him away from Ashburton. The good wishes of the whole of the people would go with Mr Taylor and his good wife and family, and all hoped they would enjoy good health, Jong life and prosperity. The Mayor presented Mr Taylor with the purse of sovereigns .and handsome illuminated address, which was artistically -prepared by Mr W. H. Alen and read as follows:

To Thomas David Taylor, Esq.

Dear Sir,

We, the residents of Ashburton Borough and County, desire to express our appreciation of the very able manner in which you have filled the Editorial chair of the Ashburton Mail and "Guardian" for the past five and a half years. Your leaders and criticisms have always been bold and fearless, and have marked you as a man possessing not only high literary attainments, but also sound judgment and commonsense, whilst you have, at all times, loyally supported the various patriotic organisations, labouring to assist the Empire in the great European War.

We feel confident that a successful career lies before you, and, on your departure from the district, you take with you the best wishes of the whole community.

Signed on behalf of the residents R. Galbraith, Mayor of Ashburton. J. Cairns. Chairman of County Council. Ashburton, January 26. 1918.

OTHER APPRECIATIONS.

Mr C. Reid, a member of. the Ashburton County Council, said he wished to pay a tribute to Mr Taylor on behalf of the people of the County. Mr. Taylor's leading articles had been greatly appreciated. Mr Taylor was of a retiring deposition and had not come in contact with a large number of people throughout the County. Had Mr Taylor's duties permitted him to mix with the community more generally he felt confident that a very large number of people would have contributed to the testimonial. Those who did not know Mr Taylor personally had learned to know him through his leading articles, which were always straight to the point. Mr Reid contended that an editor would not be worth his salt if he did not rub the public up occasionally, and added that Mr Taylor had exercised firmness in his writing, and at the same time had always maintained friendship with those he had to criticise occasionally.

Mrs W. T. Lill on behalf of the W.C.T.U., expressed thanks to Mr. Taylor for the kind way he had helped the W.C.T.U. She said that during the whole time of his editorship Mr Taylor had laid himself out to assist the society. The members were very sorry he was going away.

Mr C. W. Nicoll said that as editor Mr Taylor had given active support towards all the patriotic movements in the town and district. The Red Cross ladies had asked the speaker to personally convey their thanks to Mr Taylor for what he had done for the society. In connection with the war relief funds, Mr Taylor, through his inspiring articles, had enabled the committee to build up a substantial fund. Mr Taylor had never hesitated to take a stand in advocating what he considered to be right, and had always done so, fearless of consequences. He was very sorry Mr Taylor was leaving the town.

Mr. J. Cow also expressed his regret that Mr Taylor was leaving Ashburton, and said he felt sure the .community was losing a good man who had stood firmly by to assist all patriotic movements. Personally, when he had had occasion to interview Mr Taylor in connection with patriotic matters, he had always received a hearty welcome. The speaker said he felt sure Mr Taylor's successor would have difficulty in filling the esteemed place with many of the local people that Mr Taylor had occupied. It was a great pity that a man of Mr Taylor's ability was going to be lost to the community. He hoped that Mr Taylor would stir up the departments in Wellington and enable them to try and do some good in order that the people would know that they had some live departments in Wellington.

MR TAYLOR'S RESPONSE.

Mr Taylor, on rising to return .thanks, was warmly applauded. He said he was deeply sensible of the kindness and thought of those who had conferred this honour upon him. It was something unique in his 25 years' experience as a newspaper man, and, in fact, he never remembered a similar function. There must have, been something in the air or the good nature of the citizens to induce them to pay him such a compliment. The present gathering meant not only a compliment to himself, but was one which his family would be proud of, and it was also a compliment to journalism. He had done his utmost to work for the public, and, as some of them knew, he had not benefitted himself to the extent of a farthing in this town. He had worked day and night with the object of bettering his fellow men. He contended, that in this country there was scope for reform in some of the customs and the day would come when they would sweep away some of the obsolete Laws. He had felt sometimes that he could not bit hard enough against some of the social laws relating to sexes, while the inequalities relating to women were something disgraceful. It had always been his ideal to try in some way to remedy the social laws, which was the one barrier that stood in the way of equality in this country. (Hear, hear). The newspapers were restricted by the libel laws, and also nowadays by the strict censorship. He had sailed to the wind as close as any editor in the country, and had endeavoured to effect reforms. On one occasion they would remember that the Prime Minister had threatened him with the Crown Law Office, but that was the only occasion on which he had been pulled tip. (Applause). However, the offence had been over looked. The speaker contended that if lie had the chance and the money he would risk some of the laws in this country in order to bring about reform. Touching upon local topics, Mr Taylor said there were men in the room with whom he had had some pretty hot words, but for all that they had always remained friends. Generally, he had always met with the most courteous treatment. He agreed with Mr Reid that editors should get out amongst the people, for it was necessary for an editor to know the public in order to write for the public. Mr Taylor said he bad also tried to get under the farming question, and explained some interesting personal experience he had while indulging in some small farming experiments on his own account. From these he had learned something and profited by the experience, which showed that it was personal contact with various matters that improved one's knowledge considerably. In conclusion he sincerely thanked the people of Ashburton and district for the kindness extended to himself and his wife and family.

Cheers were then given for Mr and Mrs Taylor. The gathering concluded by singing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow."