COUNTY REVIEW

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 304, 12 May 1941, Page 5

COUNTY REVIEW

INTERVIEW WITH CHAIRMAN

war responsibilities

Referring .to the growing nature of the County responsibilities as a direct result of the war, Mr J. L. Burnett, chairman, in an interview Inst Saturday, said that in, all his twelve years experience as a county representative, he had known of no oilier lime when the; duties of chairsman were so arduous.

The Home Guard and the Emergency Precautions Scheme, had, brought in their train new duties" which had to be recognised. For instance since lie had. addressed the inaugural meeting in the county last December np till the present time when the Home Guard in this district was a numerical New Zealand record on a pro rata basis, there had been endless calls on his time as chairman. He was however promt of the results and the splendid way in which (he" farmers had responded.

. II was the Same story with the iE.P.S., where muoh organisation had been necessary. The Patriotic j Committee was yet another very heavy, but nevertheless important, nn jid'ertaking. In the first instance he j ! (Mr Burnett) as delegate to the | Auckland Provincial Council, hat.lt Undertaken to organise the whole of the Whakntane district, so that it would be enabled to play its fair share in the Dominion's Patriotic activities. He was also glad to say that the work was now running: smootlily and the system employed was held up as a pattern both by the 'Zone'" headquarters' at Tauranga, and by the interzone l committee at Opotiki.

Speaking of the coming' election. Mr Burnett said it mattered not who were returned at t'lio polls, provided they w r ere prepared to face up to the new; responsibilities dictated by the war conditions. Thes'* were times when possibly the usual 'keenness' of the elections could be dropped in favour cif getting down to fundamentals in order that the best service possible could be given to the nation in tho widest sense. He had enjoyed the confidence of the ratepayers and since his candidature had been challenged wasprepared as all' public men - should, to leave it to the electors.

He considered however that his period of service, had been one of goad stewardship. In the two year's he had served as chairman the financial position had Keen particularlysound. Last year tlie general rates

had been reduced by a farthing, but this had unfortunately been offset by a corresponding-increase' in:

the Hospital rate in the same year. There appeared to be every chance of a further reduction thi'sr year, though the Hospital estimates again showed a further increase im allocation. However it might be possible, owing to the. healthy- state of the Hospital account to hand: cm the? benefit of the reduction to tire ratepayers. Mr Burnett concluded that with the valuable plant at the council'sdisposal, and tlie reorganisation of the Engineer'.?- Departments-, theyr had been enabled to carry* on the usual programme of work and maintain the roads in a good standard of repair in spite of the reduction of Government grants, and he- considered that generally- speaking, thet County had" been most fortunate u* being able to meet all roading demands, and' effect the rascal improvements.