Farewells and obituaries don’t tend to say bad things about people, but David comes across as such a decent man I’m simply going to quote the Northern Advocate of 6th May 1943 that reports on a special sitting of the Whangarei Children’s Court to farewell him on his retirement.
David had four children with his wife Emma Evans. They married in 1904.
Northern Advocate, 6th May 1943
High tribute to the work of Mr. David McCarroll as Child Welfare Officer in Northland for nearly 25 years was expressed by magistrates, police, and the Bar at a special sitting this morning of the Whangarei Children’s Court, held to farewell Mr. McCarroll on his retirement and to wish him well for the future.
“For 24 years, Mr. McCarroll had given devoted and faithful service to the several magistrates who had presided over children’s courts in the north,” said the Magistrate (Mr. Raymond Ferner). “At the end of such a notable term, it was unthinkable that Mr. McCarroll should be permitted to go quietly into retirement without some public acknowledgment of his long labour, and the special court sitting was being held for that opportunity.”
Unique Position
“Mr. McCarroll’s position in the northern community today is quite unique,” added Mr. Ferner. “His duties required him to attend most courts in various towns. Generally, on arrival in those towns, numbers of people could be found waiting at the hotel, at the courthouse, and elsewhere ‘looking for Mr. McCarroll’. I know quite well that many of these are not waiting to interview him as Child Welfare Officer but to seek his counsel and assistance in a great variety of difficulties. To walk up the main street of Kaitaia or Kaikohe with Mr. McCarroll is a hopeless proceeding. You will not get 100 yards without someone detaining him to pour out their troubles, and these people know by experience that Mr. McCarroll’s advice and help will readily be forthcoming. For nearly 25 years, this district has been ably served by Mr. McCarroll. He has combined a natural capacity with a deep knowledge and insight into both Māori and European ways. His wide acquaintanceship with the people of the north has made it possible for him to assist greatly in the adjustment of many young Māori to the environment in which they have to live.
Care of Children
“Where Mr. McCarroll has seen a child not properly adjusted to its environment, his great knowledge of the population of the north has enabled him to place that child in the kind of situation or home which suited it and would likely afford the opportunity of leading a useful, happy life. Much of his work has been of a preventive character and for every case that has come before the Children’s Court through police channels, there have been many where court involvement has been avoided. There must be many a person in the north who will acknowledge with gratitude that their success in life has been due to the opportunity made for them in their youth by Mr. McCarroll’s intervention as child welfare officer, and for his subsequent kindly supervision.”
Still Serving Community
“On his retirement, there could hardly be a sweeter satisfaction for Mr. McCarroll than to recall some of the many years in which youngsters under his care had made good,” continued Mr. Furner. “No words could possibly mean as much to him as the deep satisfaction which followed on a task well done.”
“Now, the burden of years and the results of extensive and arduous traveling for nearly 25 years compelled Mr. McCarroll’s retirement. While he relinquished his work as Child Welfare Officer, he would be welcome as a Justice of the Peace sitting in Whangārei, and his experience would still be of advantage to the community.”
§
In fact that was one of several tributes. A second magistrate, JH Luxford S.M. spoke of David’s “intuitive knowledge of human nature in its early stages” and “inherent sense of fairness”. GN Morris S.M. spoke of the “inestimable advantage of having lived in the district from its pioneer days” and knowing “the Maori as well as he knew the pakeha”. David would “never advise taking a child from its parents unless the position was absolutely without hope; nor would he agree to sending a child to an institution if he could find a suitable person to undertake its care.”
Representatives of the Bar and the Police also paid tribute.
In return David said he couldn’t find words to adequately express his thanks for the good wishes, or for the assistance given him by magistrates, police, court officials and Government officials. He said he felt some satisfaction that 80 or 90 boys who had passed through his hands had served their country overseas and it was most gratifying to him to see boys with whom he had had to deal grow to decent manhood. Although he had had to take leave of absence for three months through illness he had returned intent on carrying on his work for the duration of the war, but that was not to be and he’d to relinquish the reins.
§
If you think the fact the Advocate dedicated a whole column to a retiring social worker because there wasn’t much going on that day you’d be wrong. In the same issue there were several stories about the war, including landings on Guadalcanal, and the air of suppressed excitement at an R.A.F. station commanded by a Kiwi. After shooting shooting down 994 German planes they were running a £250 sweepstake for whoever took down their thousandth. In other news, Roosevelt wanted to meet Stalin, and de Gaulle was willing to meet Giraud. One story featured repatriated prisoners of war praising the work of the Red Cross in Italy. Another described life in the German-occupied Channel Islands.
Dave was 68 in 1943 but he lived on to age 91. Like his brothers, he was a JP, and his obituary says that for many years he was a Northland Member on the Auckland Education Board, as well as on the Otamatea County Council and the old Northland Roads Board.