TUAKAU TOWN BOARD.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 769, 19 September 1922, Page 7

TUAKAU TOWN BOARD.

REVIEW OF PAST PROGRESS. BY RETIRING CHAIRMAN. “WASHING UP” MEETING. Several matters of minoit importance only were dealt with at the “washing up” meeting on Friday t#f the retiring Tuakau Town Board. There were present: Messrs Dynes Fu#:on (chaiirjman), G. S. Lapwoqd# W, J. Taylor,, J, B. Sim, C. Finch, A.' Medland, G, Arrowsmith and the clerk (Mr A. H. Tapper) . After the ordinary business was disposed of, an impromptu function was held in the Board’s (room., whereat ,in addition to the personnel of the retiring* there were present Messrs Jas. .Pirret, W. A. Strahan, and Captain Rydeir, three members of the first Tuakau Town Board.

The chairman (Mr Dynes Fulton) rejfqrred to the harmony which existed throughout the tei#n the retiring Board. Every member had done his level best in the interests of thtj cfistricjt, 30bejy came to the meetings with one objecft, namely, to furtherl the interests of Tuakau, and not for personal gain. Although they had had differences qf opininon friction wasi unheard of, During thej|r term of' office good work had been done in spite of ithe uphill sruggle that had confronted them. As a of .fact they had had a Big struggle ever since tihe inception of the Board, but he w,as glad to state they had emerged! Itherecfirom successfully. As far ?as fwancps Were cpnc.erjipd Tfisikau’jyas in a vary position. The members of the Bosird had set out on a policy of economy and had economised as much as possible in every detail, and therefore ware able to keep the finances lin a tfajjrly good position. He ha,di been chairman of the Board for the past eigb# years, and he was pleased to say that Tuakau Town Board was one of a very few local bodies that dic| not have an intecedent liability. This .alone went to show the ratepayers that ithe. Board finances were good. He reitefrated the remark that every member of the Board did his work (faithfully and well. Be was pleased to see some Off the, Boat’d seeking re-election, and w ; as able to say that -those who were doing so were good strong, capable men* flnd he would like to see them returned, He congratulated members on the manner in which they had performed their duties, and he thanked them all for the support accorded him, also 'lthe deputy chairman (Mr Garnet Arrowsmith) for assistance rendered whenever he (the speaker) was absent .from meetings and from Tuakau. He {thanked the clerk (Mfr A, H. Tapper) his assistance and added that Tuakau had unearthed a clerk possessed of great ability. The auditor spoke in the highest terms of Mr Tapper, and he (Jthe auditor) had assured him (the chairman) that the Tuakau Town Boasfd, was very fortunate in having a clerk: with such ability as Mr! Tapper was possessed. His books were always up-to-date and in order, and never did be have a tag attached to his balance sheet. The desk's ability aod Ms straight forwardness had greatly sssisfred the Board members and W 8- aved them conside * r ~ able wow, The engineer (Mr J, Routly) had also been a Jarful servant and had carried Ms duties well. Cwing to the high cost of materials and laboilr, it w,as {found that some of thd allocations out of loans were not sufficient to carry out works. Consequently the engineer was asked to economise, In the easel of the White bridge the engineer was requested Ito economise hqre, and the wings Of the bridge were put in smaller than otherwise would have been the case and unfortunately the

fillings broke them away to a certain extent. However, he engineer made the flam age* good and has now left the bridge in a very creditable position. A high tribute was psyid :co the Staff, particularly the surfaceman (Mr H. Wilson) who unfortunately had to relinquish his position through ill-health. Mr Iflfdson was a faithful servant and his set vices were greatly! missed. He trusted that Wilson would speedily recover. The chairman then gave a resume of the operations of the Board since its inception in September, 1914. In the course of his remarks Fulton said: In 1914 a Commission sat and subsequently recommended that a Town District be formed. The first election of Commissioners was held in September, 1914, and resulted in the return of Messrs D. Fulton, 11. B, Free„ J. H. Craig, Wm. Glasgow, Jas. Pi'rret, W. A, Strahan .and Captain J, S. Ryder. Mr Dynes Fulton was unanimously elected chairman, and Mr A, H. Tapper appointed clerk. The general rate was then struck by the Franklin County Council, being l%d in the £, and the total general rate collected for the year ending March 31st, 1915, {totalled £340 Os sd. The expenditure on roads for this period amounted to £390 Is 9,d, and the debit balance at) the end of year was £63, At the election of 1916 Messrs D. Fulton, H. B. Free, Wm. Glasgow, Jas. Pirret, J. H, Craig, W. G. Graham and' Captain J. S. Ryder were returned. Mr D, Fulton was again elected chairman. The general rates collected for the year were £SBB 5s 3d, and the principal items of expenditure Roads formation and repair £597.8s 9d apd. damages and costs awarded against the Board over an unfortunate accident £146. -The debit balance at end of year was £336 ,0s 9d.

1917- : In 1917 a general scheme of road formation, metalling, bridging and footpath formation for the various roads of the district, estimated to cost £12,000 was drawn up by the Board’s engineer, and a proposal to borrow this sum submitted to the ratepayers. The proposal was approved by a large majority, and the first instalment of the loan (£2000) procured from the Public Trustee. Out of this £1026 14s 8d was spent, principally on Ryder’s road and George Street. A general, rate of l%d was struck and included all special rsltes due to the Franklin County Council. The gem eral rates collected totalled £603 0s Id, £3lO 19s 5d was spent on general road works, and the debit balance at end of year was £487 9s lOd, 1918- : The year ,1918 s,aw New Zealand visited by the plague, and this district suffered severely. The election in September 1918, held just before the plague started, resulted in Messrs D. Fulton, Walter Baranby, J. H. Craig, W. J. Deeble. W. Gubb, G. H. Lapwood and B, G. Geraghty being returned. Mr D. Fulton was agalin elected chairman, belt resigned his seait on the Board after the firs# meeting. F.r Mungal being elected to fill the vacancy, and Mr W, J. Deeble was elected chairman

This Board failed to carry on. Commissioners Deeble and Gubb resigned and Com. J« H. Craig died, An election resulted in Messrs D. Fultonj, Jas. Pirret and C. Finch being returned and Mr D. Fulton was again elecsted chairman. The general 'rate for 1918-19 was md and special rate 3-Bd. General’ rates collected £637 11s Id, expend# ture fr,om general account on roads £761 4s 9d. The debit balance at end of year was £269 2s 7d, A second 'instalment of £2OOO god a third, of £2500 were procured from the Public Trustee on account of loan, and Ithe expenditure ex loan for the yes# totalled £3344, the principal items being the White bridge, kerbing and channelling George Street, and Liverpool Streqtk grading George Street and pui'chase of metal. 1919-20 : The general rate struck was iy 2 d and special ra\te threefarthings. General rates collected £642 9s 3d, expenditure on roads ex general account £145 7s 2d and on new weighbridge £145 9s od. The debit balance at end of yeur was £642.

Another instalment of £2500 on account of loan was procured from the Public Trustee and expenditure ex loan (totalled £3769, principal items being laying George and Liverpool Streets in res tar, re-g(r,ading and ‘formation George Street (low** end) and stock of metal. 1920-21 : The election held in September, 1920, resulted in the return df Messrs D C. F inch, G. S, Lapwood, J.' B. Sim, J. Pirret, G. Arrowsmitih and! W. J. T.aylor, Mr Jas, Pirret subsequently resigned, the vacancy as caused being filled by the election of Mr A. Median, cl. general rate struck was IVid and special rates totalling I%*. Geneial

rates collected £649 18s Id and ex. pendlture on roads out of general account was £192 Os 7d The debit balance at end ol' year was £BO6 Os lid. The last instalment of the loan £3OOO was procured from the Public Trustee, and £I6BO 3s 8d expended on loan account, the principal items being re-grading and formation George Street and Carr Street and on metal.

During the year ia proposal to borrow" £7050 "Tor Municipal Chambers and Town Hall was submitted to the ratepayers* and approved by a very large majority, Of this loan £750 was obtained from /the Government Insurance Department, and a suitable site for the proposed Town Hall purchased therewith.

19214922: General rate struck l%d and special rates totalling 19-16 d, with a hospital rate of }4id, General rates collected £854 5s s,d|, a new valuation of the district having come into force at the beginning of this year. The expenditure on roads ex general account was £132. Debit balance at end of yeaa' £378 13s 5,d» The principal items of ..a total expenditure ex loan account of £1857 were re-grading Harrisville Road, new bridge Harrisville Road, George 91., Carr St., and Gibson Road re-grading and metalling. The capital value in the Town District as on M,arch 31st,, 1915, was £54,089 and as at March 3.lst, 1921, £143,505. Continuing, Mu Fulton said that it could be seen that during the progress ojf the Town District eluding the eight years one of the main items was the conversion of the main srteeit from a muddy quagmire into one of the best streets in the Dominion, He was sure the people of Tuakau were glad that they they had stepped out in the right direction. He was not seeking re-election owing to the fact thaff he had a burden of duties to cajjry. He had to unload some, tfdr ai iterm at least, He had always taken an interest in matters pertaining to the welfare of Tuakau. He addled that If he was ’spared he might come out again for Town Board honours. Speaking of the finances of *the Board, Mr Fulton said that! the incoming Boapd] would fake ove<r the reins of office with strong finances. The present Board had expended only one-third of the year’s revenue, while the weirst six months : had passejd, He concluded by thanking members for their support) during their term. He then presented to the on behalf of thel Board, an enlarged photograph off Tuakau’s first Town Board. (Loud applause).

The clerk thanked the chairman for (the kindly sentiments voiced. He had always endeavoured' to do his best in the past, and would continue to do so in the future. He thank, ed the chairman (for the photograph of the first Tuakau Town Board. The clerk said when ha( took over the clerkship he had not had any previous experience, but had carried on through, delving into matters and with the chairman’s assistance. Of the members photoglraphed were Messrs D, Fulton, H. B. Free, J, H. Cdaig, M, Glasgow, Jas. Pirret, W. A. Strahan and Captain J. S. Ryder and the (Mr A. H, (rapper). Of these all were living except Mr J. H, Craig. All were in the distriqt save Mr H. B. Free, who was now at Palmerston Noxffh.

Mr G. S. Lapwood, who had occupied a seat oh the Board for the last four years,, paid a high tribute lo the work the chairman had accomplished during his tjrem of office. He very much regretted the chairman! was not seeking re-election, However he trusted thajt whoevejr was .elected to fill the position do so If or the good of the town. If the incoming and ffffture boards pulled together like the outgoing board then they would be able *to carry on successfully. Matters, he added, were alright financially, He wished the chairman good luck and prosperity in the future,

Mir W. J.Taylor in expressing his regret sit the chairman's decision not o seek re-election* hoped! that the new Board would work in harmony for the welfare of Tuakau. Mr Fulton had been a good chairman and had always given members a good run, He found that a goo)d chairman and a good clerk were a valuable asset to any diitiffet. He hoped the new Board would be able to leave office satisfied they had performed as much good work as the 1920-22 Board. Mr G, said he hoped . the new Bo,ard’ wbald be comprised ;I of a serviceable lot of. men ; mejn who would do their best for the district us a whole. Mr J. B. Simi also expressed his regre art; Mr Fulton’s decision to i stive. His ability 'as a chairman and, a member were recognised in other districts. He had performed good work for Tuakau and the l who:e district. For two years Mij Fulton was president cf the Franklin A. | and P. Society and had done valuable | work foir this body. He wished those members seeking re-election on

Wednesday good luck, because if they were returned they would be able to impart some guiding knowledge to their colleagues,

Mv Finch endorsed the sentiments voiced by fellow members. Mr Fulton’s loss, he assured them., would be felt by the township and district. He had a great! grip of public affairs. Mr W. A. Strahan, a member of the first Tuakau Town Board, expressed regret, as a ratepayer, that Fr Fulton was not seeking re-elec-tion. Mr Fulton had always taken a keen interest in local maters—he was one of thp few who had been able to give an exceptional amount off time to the position. Mr Strahan advocated borrowing. Mr A, H. Tapped as a ratepayer, regretted Mr Fulton was not seeking re-election. He had always found he chairman a sound] business man, and a very able chairman, It was wise to have ( a man with a wide experience a/t the head of affairs. Captain Ryder said Mr FuLton, as chairman of tthe Boar,cs|, was the right man in the] right place. He led the firsf Board through difficult times, and he was pleased to see the progress the town had l made rince the inception off the Board—good work had been accomplished. The Board was losing the services of a good and honest man who had given moJt{e time and attention to the district than any offhe** man could or would have done.

Mr Fulton, in reply, said he felt deeply touched over the kindly sentiments voiced by his preseff; and past colleagues of the first Town Board. Aflter again referring to the amicable manner in which the retiring Board had worked* he said, that when the firsjt Town Board launched out the town was jjn a bad state for human habitation* in fact it was in a filthy state. The Tuakau Progressive League had tried to stir the people up to realise their, responsibility ito their town ; He was one of those responsible for bringing about he formation off a Town District. AJt the outset the position was a veiry difficult) one—they had no money and had to borrow £36 from the Minister of Internal Affairs (then (the Hon. F, M. B, ( Fisher) -to on with, but although Ithey thought they were in clover the money was soon spent. He referred to the assistance rendered by the Franklin County Council to the Board and! the fine spirit which prevailed between (the two bodies. The first d, a ys were difficult ones, add 1 ithen came the dark black days of the Qreat War. However, every member stood to and they weathered the storm. One and all idid Itheir best for the town they did not come out for personal gain —that wasi one characteristics of Tuakau Town Boards. In spite of the dark days exceptionally good work was accomplished* and the district made progress along with that progress m,ad© in any part of the Auckland district. No district had msjde better progress. Members of padt Boards had always deliberated on matters according to their* convictions and had always voted their own way and /did not follow a leader, That man that makes the successful public man is the one who would come out and stick to his convic£ionS|, he would come out right every time. He had loyal support from the public, and he knew he had the greater majority of his people at his back, He had made mistakes—ithe public recognised he was doing his best. He had represented the district for 12 years, on the Pukekohe East Road Board, Franklin County Council and the Tuakau Town Board—the latter for eight years. It was gratifying to know that aftar a sojourn of 12 years his services were appreciated by the public. In spite of the financial depression, the Town Board financial position was sound. Judging from the of nominations he was satisfied that the incoming Board would be able to carry on as successfully as past Town Boards. He thought thsre was nothing to fear in the future prosperity off Tuakau. (The reason he was not seeking further honours at preserve was because he was, interested in dairying and had a duty to perform to his family. Alter two years he hoped to have his sonc established and at the end of that period he would be in a better position to devote' more time to >the welfare off the district, and it would give him great pleasure to come back. He had no intention of leaving Tuakau. H had given 12 years of the best days of his life to public affairs and he thought he deserved a rest, (Applause). He thanked all for 'theft* kind remarks,

Mu Jas. Pirret endorsed the remarks of previous speakers.. live chairman’s health was enthusiastically drunk, those present singing ‘•For he’s a jolly good fellow.”