Hide Article Text (OCR)
Mr. Allan Knighted ForPublic ServicesFROM PAGE ONE•- CAREER OF SERVICEHAROLD EGBERT ALLAN has served the country as Privy Councillor. legislator, Executive Councillor and Minister of Finance, organiser, founder and secretary of the Association of Parochial Boards of Jamaica and the Association of Elected Members; member of varipus com-mis-'ions. boards, committees for the welfare of the people.1 Sir Harold Allan took an active part In bringing into being the new Constitution for Jamaica and to him was largely due the unanimityamong the' peoples’ representativeswhich was vitally necessary to enhance the granting of the country's request for a new Constitution. •There are Government departments functioning in Jamaica today for the betterment of the people that were introduced through his instrumentality: for example, the Lands Department. and the Central Housing Authority- He won considerable support from his colleagues in the Legislative Council in his successful fight for the^ establishing of the Marketing Department and the Central Housing Authority, and one can well remember his dictum in the Legislative Council. “Hoining and Land should go hand in hand.” He introduced reforms in land settlement terms and administration.By a motion in Council he was originator of the Unemployment Commission which prepared the way and gave birth to the creation of the Labour Department.The Jamaica Women's League owes much to Sir Harold for his successful efforts in placing it on the list for Government annual financial assistance under the head of Subventions in the Island's Budget-The name Jamaica Welfare 1943 Ltd. cannot be divorced from evidence of his tact displayed during the process of re-constitution of that body in which he took an active part.His scheme for the treatment of Venereal diseases and the erertion of clinics throughout the island for the benefit of the unfortunate raa'ses remains today one of the best 'social sendees through which many thousands have benefited-*In 1938 he visited England a^his own expense and on his own initiative. and represented to the Colonial Office the unsatisfactory living conditions in Jamaica. Low wager, abominable housing conditions and the lack of employment: the need for more schools and hospitals: the urg-IVJr. Allan I should say It wan urbanity. I use thf term in the classical sense of the restrained courtesy and polish which comes from mixing with one’s feilowmen, from being a pian of affairs, and Jn the best sense being all things to all men— a product of civilization.•'jf 1 had to nominate . hia most outstanding political characteristics I should say that they were tad* and a love of p’eace. No one knows better than I do how many dlfB,curt situations have been smoothed outby Mr- Allan during these -years-If the .Governor Vas being unduly provocative or if Elected Memberswere being unduly-unreasonable, ithas generally been Mr. Allan who preached Ihe spirit of co-operation and reasonable compromise* Tenacious of his own opinion, he yet knows how to wait and from never being in a hurry he gets there first.He never indulges In opposition fo-opposition's sake.I do not want you to run away with the idea that he b always right.There have been too many occasion? when he has differed from me, to make that a palatable thought. Hr seems-to me to have expanded—I am speaking of the intellectual piane during these years-Grown Wiser i“We are told that knowledge* comes j but wisdom lingers. If .wisdom is thepower of relating experience to ex- _perience and of drawing therefrom P°sed and sung many ditties in praise general principles of conduct and of hi-s achievements for their welfare, government whether of one’s life or I And so there must be great re-»ion of lUs thanks for your valuable service's on this occasion m»y be conveyed to you-I am, Sir,Your obedient Servant, (sgd ) H. R. E- BROWNE , Acting Colonial Secretary.For the first time in the history of Jamaica. lt;1945), the Island’s Budget was presented to its Parliament by a native and elected member- Hitherto it wa; the Colonial Secretary who always introduced- the Budget and carried through financial discussions in the Legislative Council. It was Mr. Allan who made history in 194.*) as Minister of Finance under the New Constitution,' and ■ acquitted himself with credit to the country.Parish ServiceIt is to the people and chiefly the poor people *of Portland that Harold Egbert Allan has dedicated his services. Among; them he formed benevolent societies. Social and literary clubs, and for many years he was a leading figure in tbe Parochial Board wh^re he introduced outstanding improvements to his town and parish in numerous directions. At every rign of disaster or distress he moves to their aid with exceptional alacrity-The Portland minstrels have written and sung many verses to him-Here is one after th£ 1944 storm:—On the morning of the storm.H. E- Allan’s blood was warm Lord be merciful to Portland 'Til he come.He brought fond for the poor.All people love him more and ipore.H. E. AT? Give a cheer. H E. A-!The Maroons of Moore Town and the Rio Grande Valley have com-onc’s country, then Mr- Allan has grown wiser in the ability to se.e life steadily and see it whole.•‘He enjoys alike the confidencejoicing among his people at these glad tidings.Sir Harold has pledged to serve his people for at least another of his colleagues and of Govern- \ term. and the general feeling is thatment, as well as the trust of La-i Portland constituency should showhour. He is a valuable member of j appreciation of this honour by return-Prlvy Council and was one of the ! 'n£ him at the next election unop-two first Elected Members to be ■ posed.appointed to that high position. His j *-Majesty the King has made him an j Officer of the Order of the British !Empire. He can look forward to I many years of increasing service io j his country. Now—more than ever —Jamaica needs men of his experl-ence and ability. Few men if any jIn Jamaica, can look back on so-crowded a public life. j“As a politician he is still young— j only 49. He was elected to Legisla- itive Council in 1935 at the age of 41. i Te Elected Members Association and | the Parochial Boards Association owe 1 to him more than can be stated. He has served as a member of innumer* 1 able boards and committees—promin-j ent amongst which are the Board of ■ Education. Railway Advisory Board/rMnd.hT : clt;i'r»1 fusing Authority!JJamaicaparticularly of the midd-c tlassfrv | Schools Commission. AgricultUral Dr-u-ere smooc the points in his Memo- j vclopmenl Board. Agricultural loan randum prepared and delivered at Sorirtir* R-vard Tn.,d«t t«7. rthe Colonial nmre in nmi ni„- lt;=.Bnard. Tourist Trade Com-London.His successful agitation in England for a Cornmeal Factory and athe Colonial Office in Dcmnin; Street,, mitler. Unemployment Commission.Conciliation Board. Practical Train-Committce, Regrading of Postal1mgr- ^ t t . anc* Telegraph Staff. Public Service;th^'hTShL°r j3SCa TaS °ne J Committee, Crtrus Marketing Com-!h r J n' i i mterview at mittce. Railway Enquiry Commit!ecJcp^/ec? on record0 ““ ^ ^1.“' °' ^ ^ ^ ‘Sir Harold has served on almost every important commission, boardor committee since .... .... . v,gs ^as* • A V k w * W 4My fir. t acquaintance with his! wore was the report on the Frome,- „ , . 1935. He fought ] disturbances for which he whsstrenuously and successfully for thejpointod by th Secretary of Stele regrading of teachers’ salaries and ! ? joint c?mm*sa:onr?*n 1938tho imnrhi'Prnont r\f p**.Jn ask irg me 10 present this medalthe improvement of the sta’us ofshort address.Bcown and the late S;r Charles Door-Iy he served on the Frome Commission,a vrrvI have exceeded my time. Mv excuse must be that I have had so Interesting a theme, l0u will not often find a worthier recipient of this medal than the present choice. The Mtgo Gold Medal is a-carded to a past : tudent for outstanding meritorious service in his chosen spheres of activity' The ElectionArthur • ?nmmittrr has choscn Mr- Ails” and uiur | haS asked me to be their inr’rumentj in making the presentation.it fitting Ca mC5 great P^casure tn do so. -•s! Mr- Allan, on behalf of the Mico OldStudents Association. I present youwith their Gold Medal for work ofSir Arthur Richards'TributeThe Mien Gold Medal was ed to him for meritorious and nn finer tribute could paid them that offered in bv Lord Milvcrtor. iSir Richards!, who rr.ade the tion.The “Gleaner’ considers to reproduce the speech below, sir Arthur said:—“The Governor is official patron of fhe*‘hfph«t 1 r wrrK 01:o!Icce and per- ‘Jiu ^gh*“ I1 and rS y°“present-services, then be a speechirthu present*the Mico Training Couece ana pe haps it is for that reason that the Old Students Association has seen fit to invite me to make the formal presentation of their Gold Medal to the Honourable Member for Portland. Mr- H E. AJan. I am more than glad tn do so. and I have so-nc qualifications for the task in that it has been my fortune to pre-ride over the administration of Jamaica continuouslyfor the past fi\e years ’ It would be impossible to write the history of Jamaica over that, period without also writing the life of ’he Member for Portland. For good nr ill the two arc inextricably inter* twined. We think that it has been for good, and that is why we are all here today—to symbolize our appreciation of the award of this Gold Medal, Incidentally, Mr. Allan has my deepest sympathy. There can bo nothing more embarrassing or more distasteful than to have to sit and hstrn to a series of eulogies of oneself- It is one ofthe penalties of constructive public service so distinguished as to win unanimous approbation. Perhaps tbe victim is echoing the New Testament lamentation “Woe unto you when ail men chall speak well of you “If I had to select the most outstanding personal characteristic ofas ^p-• nca to«.nd to Mrs- Allan my sinccrest congratulations.”Sir Harold visited Bermuda on his own in 1938 and brought pack the Non-Resident Busine. s Law. a- a result of his investigations n thi* direction snd his motion in the Council.the Emigration Laws of Jamaica wererevised.In 394.1 he was sent to Barbados as a representative for Jamaica at the Anglo-American Conferenrr The Commi-sion and the press an^ public of that country recorded the - gratification of the services rendered on that occasion on behalf of Jamaica.At Trade ParleysIn 1947 S;r Harold Allan pointed rrrresrntaii\* of Ja:the Trade Conference jn London and Geneva and was Chairman of the 1 West Indies Delegation. Late* m the 'same year he was appointed representative of the West Indies as Colonial Adviser to the United Kingdom Delegation at the Havana Conference on Trade and Employment.The following letter as a result of a despatch from the Secretary' of State for the appreciation rf his ser-\;{e« sc’ out hereunder ” *■The Secretarial, Jamaica. J3 W I.20th May. 104*.s,r •—I directed bv the J Act*«nf Governor to inform v on that notification has been received from the Secretary of State for the .Colonies that the Official Leader of the United Kingdom Delegation to the World Trade Conference at Havana has paid tribute to tbe considerable benefit which the Delegation received from your collaboration during the Conference. The Secretary of State has asked that an exp ret-
Newspaper Details
Kingston Gleaner
Kingston, Kingston, JM
Fri, Jun 11, 1948
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Susun W.
USA 16 Feb 2019
Other Publications Near Kingston, Kingston
Kingston Gleaner
Kingston Weekly Gleaner
Kingston Outlook Magazine
Colonial Standard
De Cordovas Advertising Sheet
