Peter Whitington

Peter Whitington

• 1932 DEATH OF MR. PETER WHITINGTON

Notable Civil Servant
The death of Mr. Peter Whitington which occurred yesterday at his home Commercial road, Hyde Park, at the age of 87, removes one of the most distinguished identities in the ranks of South Australia's retired civil servants. Despite his patriarchal age, it is difficult to realise that his agile, brisk stepping figure, and his nimble and orderly intellect, are at rest. When his career as a permanent officer in the public service ceased, his wonder fulvirility of mind and body furnished a striking example of the occasional topsy turvy operation of the septuagenarian retiring law for State civil servants. As a matter of fact, the late Mr. Whitingtcon never reached the human scrapheap. When he relinquished the heavy responsibilities associated with the office of Commissioner of Audit (now Auditor-General* he simply passed from one activity to an other, like a being endowed with a fresh lease of life, and continued, until within a few weeks of his death to render valuable service to the community in practically an honorary capacity. Superannuation provision was really super fluous in the case of a man endowed with such a remarkable mentality and constitution. Mr. Whitington's father attained the age of 77 years, and his mother the age of 82. He was one of a family of 14. and he himself helped to rear eight children all of whom have out lived their parents. Of a naturally masterful disposition, Mr. Peter Whitington was always influenced by a strong: sense of justice, and no conscientious worker among the many who came under bis control and direction ever had cause to complain of the treatment received at his hands.
The legion of personal friends, who enjoyed the hospitality of his home at Hyde Park, which was practically an open house in earlier days knew him as a mast lovable and interesting host, with whom it was a privilege to be associates Civil Service Career. A son of Mr. William Smallpiece Whitington, who was one of the earliest pioneers, and came to the State in his own vessel, the late Mr. Peter Whitington was born near Balhannah on February 4, 1845 and was educated at the historical school of John L. Young, after whom the now stately thoroughfare of Young street, travelling several southern suburbs, was named. The family Dovecot was a full one, and Mr. Whitington showed early evidence of independence by getting out to fend for himself. Seven years of mixed mercantile and mining operations followed, including some experience on the River Murray, and the turning point came when he received the appointment of assistant to the Accountant in Insolvency. He filled that position for a further seven years, and was then promoted to the post of second clerk m the Audit Office in June. 1873. Two years later be became chief clerk, in 1896 secretary, and in 1907. following the death of Mr. Ebenezer Cooke, he was raised to the position of Audit Commissioner in preference to the claims of quite a number of worthy aspirants for the important vast. Mr. Whitington had a very high conception of the responsibilities of his office, and he was a man whose strong self-confidence, backed by inherent fearlessness, really made unnecessary the special protection from political influence granted by Parliament to the Audit Commissioner. His sound, business-like criticisms of the conduct of State finance did much to keep successive Treasurers and heads of departments up to the mark, and to establish the firm public credit which South Australia enjoys in the eyes of the world today. Mr. Waiting ton retired from the Audit Commission-ship in 1912. after a total of 47 years of faithful and honorable service in the employ of the Government.
Friend Of Civil Servants
The public servants of South Australia, past and present, hare good reason to hold the late Mr. Whitington in graceful remembrance. From Janu ary 1. 1901. until June 30, 1902. he was a member of the first Public Service Classification Board. For a long period he was chairman of the editorial committee of The Public Service Review." a journal which still remains the effective mouthpiece of organised civil servants, and it was largely through bis efforts that the Public Service Association was established. When the Reclassification Board of 1901-2 had done its work in Adelaide Mr. Whitington was lent to the Western Australian Government to become c. member of the Public Service Royal Commission in that State.
Activity In Retirement
After Mr. Whitington's retirement the Peake Government appointed the late Mr. Thomas Gill and himself as a commission to make suggestions to increase the efficiency of and to point out possible economies in the South Australian public service. On finding that their recommendations were pigeon-holed, although perhaps only temporarily, their sturdy independence asserted it self. and they resigned their commission. Perhaps the greatest work Mr. Whitington did in toe years of bis retirement was in the capacity of chairman of the Commifisionere for Charitable Funds Board, appointed in 1912. The original members of the board were the late Mr. Alfred Catt. and Mr. William Gilbert, and successive vacancies by death were filled by Messrs. Whitington. Gill E. M. Smith, and L. H. Sholl. The board has had the duty of administering the estate of £86.000— since vastly increased in value—which the late Mr. Thomas Martin left for the benefit of the Adelaide Hospital. Relatives In December, 1872.
Mr. Whitington married Jeanette Isabella, daughter of the late Mr. T. W. Lyons, and the couple celebrated their golden wedding in December. 1923. In the following June the union was broken by the death of Mrs. Whitington. Their eons and daughters are:—Messrs. Ernest Whitington ("Rufus" of "The Advertiser"). Bertram (Mount Lyele, Tasmania), who has had a distinguished career in academic and metallurgical circles. Guy (Lion Timber Mills. Proprietary), Percy (Railways Department), and Louis A. of the legal firm of Holland and Whitington), Mrs. Frank Lloyd, and Misses Olive and Norah Whiting ton. Archdeacon Whitington, of Tasmania, who, before he took holy orders, was c cub editor of The Re igister," is a brother of the deceased. 'Other brothers were the late Mesas. J. B. Whitington, superintendent of the railways at Wallaroo and Narracoorte, A. O. Whitington (secretary of tie SAJ.C), and R. McD. Whitington, of the South Australian Education Department. Miss Flo. Whitington is a sister.

DEATH OF MR. PETER WHITINGTON. (1932, July 4). The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), p. 8. Retrieved February 14, 2016