ANNUAL MEETING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 58, 27 May 1942, Page 5

ANNUAL MEETING

WHAKATANE COUNTY COUNCIL MR J. L. BURNETT RE-ELECTED Prior to the ordinary business the annual meeting of the Whakatane Countj" Council took place yesterday when the chairman, Mr J. L. Burnett, in a comprehensive l review of the year touched on all the main activities covered by the county services. Financially, he said,, the county was particularly sound, and ho had but one cause for regret—the in- ■ creased hospital rate. Last year it ; had been possible to make a decrease dn the general rate, but this year there would have to be an increase which' would be entirely due to the hospital rate. The rate collection had been a record and the ratepayers! were to be ■ '••ongratulated on their response. JL ' The Native rates too were coming to ■ hand, due largely to the efforts of A. O. Stewart. The position generally was most encouraging. He complimented the clerk on the standard of work and organisation he had reached in connection with the E.P.S. and the Patriotic activities. The acting engineer, Mr R. Q. Tomkins, was also to be congratulated on the efficient and capable manner in which h© had carried on, on his own during the past eight . months. He had more than exceeded the council's expectations and during his period o.f control there had been 13,000 additional cubic yards • of metal spread on the roads and supplied to farmers who had changed over to cheesei. He warned the council that the - bridges throughout the county would i be in need of attention in the near

.'.future and as Government assistance ( in this respect was now no longer ;available, the responsibility would j he a heavy one. 1 Th© new Avorkshop would play an i ■ important part in the care and, main- ( tenance the council's' plant. "Vehicles .and stock of all descriptions would ] be housed and properly attended to. < ' This was very important in view of i the fact' that there coulidi l>e no re- < y placements for the duration andi the : standing valuation was £10,000. Mentioning the Matata/ and Edge- ' water supplies he detailed the progress made in this direction ana ; *aid that by next annual meeting he hoped both would be in full operation. The purchase of an additional tractor shovel during the year made it imperative that the. fullest care -of stock be exercised, and withi this «nd of view he strongly urged the -appointment, of a permanent 'plant' committee. A rocent move to form a 'Local -Bodies Association in the Bay of Plenty would be further advanced at a meeting of delegates; to be held -on Thursday week. He felt that such an organisation wculdi be of the utmost assistance in dealing with •questions peculiar to this) district. Concluding he expressed his personal thanksi to the* staff, the engineer, the office and outside staffs for their loyal and efficient service throughout the year. Gr MeCrackcn complimented the • chairman on his report and paid fur- - V iher tribute to his chairmanship and 1 y-li,ty. In view of the increased imposed, upon him by the fc.P.S. and, other Avar activities! he considered that, lie had carried out his duties over a difficult period in a manner Avhich Avas a credit to him. The chairman's honorarium avhs fixed at £100 as in the past. Mr Burnett Avas re-elected to the • chair on the motion,of Cr McGready seconded by Cr Cawtc and unanimously carried. Committees Ave re appointed as un'der; — Works: Messrs J. L. Burnett, L. W. Lux toil, R. F. Wardluw, A. Mc■Gougan. and C. T. Smith. Finance: W. A. MeCrncken, J. L. Burnett, F. J. Burt, D. W. Spence and T. G. H. Cawtc. Plant: J. L. Burnett. W. A. McCracken and D. W. Spence. Meeting days Avere fixed as in the past, ordinary Ith Tuesday in each month. Works: Each proceeding Thurs -day. Finance: Each proceeding Friday.