WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1920, Page 1

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 24th

ANNUAL MEETING. The Council held the annual meeting at noon to elect a Chairman for Ihe ensuing yeair. There were present Messrs T. R. Chestermaii, P>, Ward, ,J. A. Murdoch, TV. Jeffries, «J. Ritchie, W. H. Chinn, E. A. Wells, and L. H. Morel. j -The Clerk (Mr D. J. Evans) look the | chair and notified the election of the ) various Councillors., He then invited : nominations for the position of chairman for the ensuing year. Mr Ritchie proposed Mr Murdoch for the position. Seconded by Mr Wells. I Mr Jeffries nominated Mr Ward. Seconded by Mr Morel. I The voting was as follows: I For Mr Murdoch—Ayes—Messrs Chesterman, Ritchie, We 115,.., Chinn, Murdoch. Noes—Messrs Morel, Ward, j and Jeffries—s-3. For Mr Ward —Ayes— Messrs Morel, i Ward and Jeffries. Noes—Messrs Cbesjtermnn, Ritchie, Wells, Cliiiin and Murdoch.—3-5. | Mr Murdoch was therefore declared elected and took the chair. Mr Murdoch thanked Councillors* for the honor done him in electing him as chairman; and with their permission would refer to several important matters affecting the County as a whole. For the first time in the history of our local bodies this Council had had to take, up a firm attitude in connedtion with the /Greymouth Harbor Board amending Bill, which at very .short notice was rushed through the House. The Bill gives power to the Government to appoint a commission to set out the area of the rating area of the Grey Harbor Board. The powers to rate arc unlimited, and tho area may go as far south as Jackson Bay. We must resist to the utmost the inclusion of Westland County in the rating area. The Grey Board at present has a debt of £400,000 and the Board has power undert he Bill to fix the estimated expenditure for the year and to include past deficiencies, and strike a rate over the whole area accordingly. The Council must be united in their endeavors to prevent inclusion in the area. Another matter lie wished to refer to was the timber land in our County, in connection with the proclamation of the provisional forest reserve over the. timber reservations. If these areas were taken into the forestry reserve, the Council would lose the royalty on the timber cut. Tlio Council would have to take every possible effort to conserve the- interests of the timber industry. Dealing with mining he referred to the dredging 'operations now commencing on Rimii flat which gave- every promise to be successful with tlieir very , up-to-date machinery. He looked to the coming year as one of the most . difficult years the Council had experi- ;/ eneed, and would ask for their very

best support, which lie was assured be would receive, in all matters affecting the welfare of the County, Mr Mur dock then referred to the illness of Cr Duff, and would move later that the. Council express its sympathy with him and their hopes for his speedy recovery. Mr Murdoch then welcomed the new Councillors to the Council table singly and severally, and referred to the three members who bad not resumed their seats at the table. He again thanked them for the honor of electing him chairman that day. Mr Ritchie expressed his thanks for the kind reference of the Chairman. He congratulated him on his selection and referred to the needs of the district that required attention. Air Chinn thanked the Chairman for the welcome given and assured him that with tiie other members of the South riding he would do his utmost to advance the best interests of the County and administer the funds of the Council on sound, economic lines. Mr Jeffries, as the “senior junior” member, thanked the Chairman for his welcome. He felt sure the Chairman would do bis bset for the County as a whole. He bad heard the Chairman’s address with pleasure, but he would refer to one matter that he had omitted to mention. One of the most serious questions before them was economical and sound administration, not of the Council alone but of all local bodies. lie would with other members do his best for the County generally.

-Mr Ward congratulated the Chairman on bis election. He.recognised that Mr Ai urdocli had the ability to carry out the duties of the important office. He wished to explain his reasons for standing for the chair, lie bad accepted nomination that day because he and Mr Murdoch had joined the Council on the same day 13 years. During that time lie had occupied the chair on one occasion and then lie had been drawn out of the bat, while Mr .Murdoch bad filled the position twice. He would assist the Chairman in every possible way ami work harmoniously with all members to advance the best interests of the County as a whole. -

Air Che,sternum congratulated tlu Chairman on bis election. He bad voted for .Mr Murdoch because he felt that the coming year would be a trying one and that lie would be able to best fill the position. Air Wells congratulated the Chairman and welcomed the new members to tin Council table.

Mr Morel joined in the good wishes to tho Chairman arid welcome to the new members.

The Chairman acknowledged the kirn. Terence of members mid paid a triale to tlie excellent services rendered v Air Wai'd in the past. The Council then adjourned. r 1876 John AlcWhirter 1877 H. L. Robinson 1878 J. Grimmorid 1879 John Lang ISSO IT. J. Seddon--1881 ... P. Dungan 1382 John AlcWhirter 18S3 P. Dungan 1.884 J. Grimmond 1885 James Clarke 188 G J. M. MeGoldrick 1887 McL. AV. Jack 1888 J. At. MeGoldrick 1889 A. Camming 1890 Jolin McAVhirter 1891 Jolin McAVhirter 1892 Thos Daly 1893 John Staines 1894 J. Grimmond •1895 Jas F. Byrne 1896 John Staines 1897 A. Cumming 1898 P. Dungan 1899 Jas. F. Byrne 1900 iL. Northcroft 1901 T. V. Byrne 1902 A. Clifton 1903 J. Grimmond 1904 T. 4\ r . Duff 1905 T. J. McGuigan 1906 T. AG Byrne 1907 T. W. Bruce 1908 S. G. Ferguson 1909 J. A. Murdoch 1910 T. W. Duff 1911 .vT. AV. Bruce 1912 J. Grimmond 1913 S. G. Ferguson 1914 A. Clifton 1915 J. A. Murdoch 1916 H. Norman 1917 B. AVard 1918 T. AV. Duff 1919 T. AV. Bruce. „ 1920 J. A. Murdoch