County Council Subsidies.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 8 September 1910, Page 4

County Council Subsidies.

AX ENERGETIC CLERK

RiEWARDED FOR HIS

SERVICES

Tlio following extraordinary account is dipped from the Hawera Star of .Monday last:--At Saturday's meeting of Hawem County Council, the clerk (Mi Budge) read the following lettei written by him to the chairman, Waiiinaitc West County Council, dated August 23:—"Dear Sir, —Re subsidy 1008-0. Although I have bad a veuiy long and uphill fight on ibobalf of this council, 1 have great pleasure in informing you that I have obtained a very complete victory, despite the predictions of absolute failure, in that. I have secured for this council Cl3l I 1• w 9d instead of CO3l 10s Id offered by the Valuer-General. In tJiis victory—.for, remembering the strenuous opposition, it is undoubtedly a victory—l consider your council •will materially participate, for 1 take it that yon will receive os in the £ on £2033 Is Id, equal to £l'2i (is instead of the amount tendered, viz., £308 !)s lid—a difference ol £30 f lfis Id. I shall be pleased if my persistent efforts have help ed to secure this amount for youi council."

Cr. Goodland: Did 3-011 receive any reply to that letter? The clerk replied in the negative.

A councillor: .More courtesy? Cr. Goodland said lie had it on reliable authority that Waimate was divid'ed into two parties on this question :one party was of opinion that Mr Budge's efforts, should be suitably recognised; the other thought that he had no business showing that Wannatc's chairman was at fault. (Laughter.) Cr. Murdoch: More compliments! They regard the extra amount scoured for them through .Mr Budge's exertions as only just compensation lor the loss of their chairman's dignity. •Mr Budge commented on the strong opposition shown. to the course he bail adopted in regard to the subsidy (there being practically unanimity that he was in error) and councillors complimented him upon his commendable persistence and remarkable success.

SURYiCES 1! KCOGXfSED. At a later stage of tTio meeting, Cr. Goodland alluded to Mi Budge's victory concerning the subsidy, and said that only for Mr Budge tibey should not have got one ipenny of the extra amount scoured, as nobody seemed to know exactly what _ the position was. Mr Budge 'had fought this question "on his own" and against the decidedly expressed opinions of a great many people. He (Or. Goodland] thought it was only right that the Council should recognise what Mr Budge had done. (Hear, hear.) It was altogether outside his duties as dork, and he had taken tlite matter in hand on his own initiative. "Without a wish to reflect on the poimk'il he imgjhit say tilwvt they would novor have followed the matter up. To test the feelings of the council Or Goodland moved— "That the council .give Mi Budge a bonus of fifty guinea.in recognition of his special services."

, Or- Grooclla lid said ho duel not desire to bind the douncil to that nmou'iit; but lie thought the least tilling hey could do was to give some substantial .recognition. (Hear, lioiur.) Or. Tarrant socond'od the motion. Ho thought that if it had not been for Mr Budgo tliey certainly would ■Wave lost several hundred poumds. (Hear, hear.) A . r - -V" rdocOi also conpjnatiilatod Mr Budge. ITo was ,perfectly pertain that the ratepayers must be very grateful to the'clerk for the groat_ attention he had paid.' to this very intricate and complicated Iwisia r\ l<! splejiclid result, ur. Dunlop also siiipported the motion, and_ spoke of Mr Budge's persistence in fact of oipiposition. He considered t-lint when a man won't out of h.is way to benefit the AT Un n y r sllonWl 1)0 rewarded. Had Air Budge lost the same number of hunttmls, ho v -r. Btmlop) would certainly be one of the-fi/rfct to "fcit' r upon him; and he was keenly appreciative of the service. i?SI heartily endbreed all that had been said of Mr BmVe Mr Budge thanked the council. He said it was a ma.ttor he took a great interest in. Apart from tlie gratification m get/ting the extra tor the county, I TO felt a 18)000. deal of satisfaction in winning in face of all the opposition Jo received. He was indeed 1 nea at the substantial way in whicili ri CO m ,IICI reoo « n isod his efforts. . r * "arrant: It is a great feathea W your cap. (Hear, hear.)