COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1373, 6 November 1884, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION.

A public meeting was held at the Schoolroom, Wakanui, last evening, to consider the question of local government and the propriety of nominating a candidate for the forthcoming County Council election holding views assimilated to those expressed by the resolutions adopted at the late Conference between the Council and Hoad Boards. There were about thirty ratepayers present, and Mr Cole presided.

The Chairman having read the advertisement convening the meeting explained that they had met together for the purpose of determining upon some united action in respect to the forthcoming County Council elections. Mr Walah reminded the meeting 'that at the Conference between the County Council and Road Boards, resolutions had been passed favorable to the abolition of the Council in its present form, and the substitution of a Council composed of Chairmen of Road i-Soards. The members of the present Council had evidently not thought these resolutions worthy of discussion, and he thought it behoved the ratepayers favorable to those resolutions to bring forward a candidate who would do his oeat to give them effect. Mr Megson said that the time had arrived when one rating body was sufficient for the County, and it 'ested with the ratepayers to determine [ which of the existing bodies should be retained. The Conference referred to by Mr Walah had adopted t.vo resolutions, one affirming the principle that one rating body was sufficient, and the other that the Council should be composed of the Chairmen of the Rojid Boards. These resolutions were only dissented from by three members of the Conference, but still the Chairman, Mr E. G. Wright, had asked that they should be withdrawn, and Mr Harper had suggested the ad j lurnmenc of the discussion for two months. Either of these courses would have defeated the object with which the Conference had met and fortunately were not adopted. But at the next meeting of the Council the members had not the common courtesy to discuss the resolutions. A general election was now at hand, and those ratepayers favorable to the survival of the Road Boards had an opportunity to give expression to their views by bringing forward an opponent to Mr B. G. Wright. Let the farmers for once be unanimous aid they could secure all they wanted in this matter. If they thought the County Council a be ter -epresentative body than the Road Boards then by all means let the former continue to exist, but if the result of the election showed that to be the general opinion he (Mr Megson) would at once retire from bis position on the Road Board. He moved—“ That in the opinion of this meeting the County Council and the Road Boards cannot co-exist, that one rating body is quite sufficient for the requirements of the district, and that the Road Boards should be the rating body, as being the most useful for the oounty.” Mr Cass seconded the motion.

Mr Leadley said that Mr Megson had formulated a very black indictment against the Council, but he (the speaker) would like to know what improvement would be effected by the abolition of that body. Would the appointment of the Chairmen of Road Boards as Councillors bring about more economy ? In his opinion the Ashburton County Council occupied a proud position amongst similar bodies, and he thought the members had shown themselves to be diligent and intelligent in the discharge of their duties. The office expenditure undoubtedly was excessive, but they had no assurance that the proposed alteration in the constitution of the body would effect any improvement in that direction.

Mr Megson said that there was no doubt that if the Council were composed of the Chairmen of the Road Boards, the pjeient highly-paid staff would be much reduced. The whole revenue of the Council was at present expended in salaries. If they had a large balance at the Bank this state of things might be tolerated, but it could not be under existing circumstances. They had spent the whole of their land fund —L5,000 as a grant to the Borough of Ashburton, L2OO to the Public Library—and he questioned verymuoh if thoexpanditure had been right or judicious. They had just secured a vote of L7.00D tor the construction of the Ashburton traffic bridge, and he would ask Mr Leadley how the balance—L7.ooo —required for the completion of that worK was to be raised. He (the speaker) feared it would be from the sinews of the ratepayers by the imposition of a special County rate. A good overseer might do all the office work required by the Council, and the inspection of the water-races and similar duties might be relegated to the Clerks of the Roadjßoarda. The present Engineer to the Council might be quite as good a man as he was represented to be, but the Council was not in a position to undertake any works requiring his exceptional ability. Mr Leadley gathered from Mr Megaon’s remarks that he had no fault to find with the Council, but had with the salary of the Engineer, and like the historic hinaman he would burn down his church to roast his pig. There was no doubt that the si ting Councillors felt the burden of a large rate as acutely as the other ratepayers, and he (the speaker) thought they might be relied upon to effect all possible redactions. The services of a c impotent Engineer were demanded by the protective works and other important undertakings the Council had in hand. Mr Megson said that the Council had initiated a policy of economy, bat at the wrong end. They had taken LSO a year off the salary of the water ranger, the worst paid officer on the staff, and had left the excessive salaries undisturbed.

the Chairman said that in his opinion the money spent upon the protective works referred to by Mr Leadley was simply thrown away, as it had effected no permanent good. Mr Leadley suggested that they should amend the resolution so as to avoid any appearance of discourtesy towards the Council. He admitted that tae Council had made mistakes, and thought the Chairman’s honorarium might be discontinued, the salaries of the staff reduced, and the duties of the Dog Tax Collector undertaken by the office. Mr Megsoa thought the first Council had made a great mistake in assuming the responsibility of bringing the whole Act into force If the Act had not been brought into force the duties of the Council would have merely consisted of dividing the land fund and the dog tax between the different Road Boards. After some further desultory discussion in reference to the wording of the resolution, it was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. Mr Rickard asked the Cha : rman if the Wakanui protective works would entail a special rate upon the district, or if they would be contributed to by the whole county.

The Chairman replied that he could not enlighten Mr Rickard upon the subject, but he did know that the works did not afford the slightest protection to the district.

Mr Walsh proposed—“ That this meeting pledges its support to a candidate who will endeavor to carry into effect the resolutions passed at the late Conference between the Road Boards and County Council.”

Mr N. Fitzgerald seconded the resolution.

Mr Leadley asked if the other Road Boards within Hie County were taking similar action.

Mr Megson said that Mr Gilmour had

promised to more in the Longbeach district, and an effort would be made to bring a candidate forward there holding views similar to those of which the meeting had approved. The motion was then put and carried. Mr Rickard proposed—“ That this meeting pledge itself to support Mr Megson as a candidate at the 'forthcoming election for the County Council, and also to support a candidate from Longbeach holding similar views.” Mr Megson said that he would be very pleased to place his services at their disposal if they could not find a better man, but it must be understood that he came forward in their common interest, and the slight coat must be borne by them all. Mr Leadley suggested Mr Larabie as a suitable representative, but Mr Megson said that he would be unable to give his support to that gentleman, Mr Walsh seconded the proposal. He had seen much of Mr Megson on the Road Board, and felt confident that they could not find a better man to represent them.

Che resolution on being put to the meeting was carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr Leadley the gentlemen present formed themselves into a Committee, with power to add to their number, for the purpose of securing Mr Megson’s return. Messrs Walsh and N. Filzgerald were deputed to nominate Mr Megson. Mr Wilkinson said that his position preclude i him from taking an active part in the proceedings, but he thought a small working committee should be appointed to attend to the details of Mr Megson’a candidature.

Mr Wilkinson’s suggestion was adopted. It was resolved to hold public meetings at Elgin Schoolroom on Tuesday evening, llth instant, and at the Wakanui Road Board Office on Friday evening, 14th instant, to afford Mr Megson an opportunity to address the ratepayers. The Longbeaoh nominee will be invited to attend these meetings.

Small Birds Nuisance. Mr Leadley moved—“ That it be a recommendation from this meeting to the County Council to increase the amount given by them for the heads and eggs of small birds, and the Chairman of this meeting be requested to forward this resolution to the Council at its next meeting” He said that in many oases the wheat had been shown to be of no value in destroying birds and was full of sorrel and other weeds. When paying for heads and eggs there was no doubt about the Council receiving value for their money. Me Cass seconded the motion, which on being put to the meating, was carried, and a vote of thanks to the chair concluded the proceedingsr