MR J. L. BURNETT 21 YEARS ON COUNTY COUNCIL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 48, 24 May 1950, Page 5

MR J. L. BURNETT 21 YEARS ON COUNTY COUNCIL

Tributes to the fine work of Mr J. L. Burnett, Waimana, and the county clerk, Mr C. G. Lucas, Whakatane, who have been in service to the Whakatane County Council for 21 years were paid at a social gathering of councillors and their wives at Whakatane yesterday. During his period on the council Mr Burnett has bean chairman for the last 11 years and speakers referred to the progress of the county under his leadership. Mention was also made of the long service of the county engineer, Mr C. H. Brebner, who has been at Whakatane over 25 years. In thanking the councillors Mr Burnett said that 21 years was a long time but he had no regrets. He remembered when he was first approached to stand for the Nukuhou Riding 21 years ago. He had sat on the council since but often he had to fight hard to get back again.

Mr Burnett mentioned the work of Mr Lucas and said that he had left a monument to his efforts. The receipts today were double those of 1929, although the rates had iiot varied to any great extent. In 1929 the finances were in such a bad state when Mr Lucas took over it had been found necessary to strike two rates in one year. There had been much spirited opposition but the finances were cleared within the year. He had always believed in looking ahead and trying to keep ahead of the other fellow, Mr Burnett continued. He hoped his efforts had not been in vain and that he would continue to work for the good of the county. In 1944 he had been elected to the executive of the New Zealand Counties’ Association md had been able to make many valuable contacts which, he thought, had been of use to Whakatane. He expressed appreciation of the many tributes that had been paid him but without the help of his wife and members of the county staff he felt he would not have been able to do the work he had done over the years.