COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1932, Page 5

COUNTY COUNCIL

ANNUAL MEETING J. A, MURDOCH, CHAIRMAN.

The annual meeting of the Council was held at noon to-day. There were •present Messrs M. Keenan (chairman) and all members of the newly elected Council. Mr Keenan thanked the Council for Lit - assistance givin to him during the year. . > heartily thanked them for that <i si stance, which he deeply appreciated and wjji»h;,liad enabled hiini to carry out the,*,’duties entrusted to

Mr Murdoch expressed his pleasure at the manner in which the Chairman had carried out his duties during the last year. He thought it singularly appropriate that the Chairman, a native of the district should .have been Chairman on thp occasion of the R'imu Jubilee celebrations.

Mr Ward said he was al'o pleased to congratulate the Chairman. He was probably one of the youngest to occupy the chair. They hnd had a •very pleasant year, and personally he had had much fun out of it. Mr T. f P. Chesterman supported the remarks of the previous speakers, and congratulated Mr Keenan on a successful term of office, ■ Mr Keenan thanked members for their kindjy remark?, He would not have been able to carry on had it not heen for the great assistance given him by the County Clerk. Mr Evans had given splendid assistance during the year. He was specially pleased to ?.eo Mr Evans in somewhat improved health, which Ire hoped would Continue. PERSONNEL OF COUNCIL. The County Returning Officer notified the e’ection of the following members: — Northern Riding: Messrs B. Ward and ,T. A. Murdoch. Central Riding: Messrs W. A. Jamieson, T. R. Chesterman and M. Keenan. Southern Riding : Messrs James Donovan, W, Searle, J. J. McKay and W. Jeffries.

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

The Clerk (Mr D. J. Evans) took the chair and invited applications for the position of Chairman for the ensuing year.

Mr Jeffries nominated Mr Murdoch. Supported by Me-.srs Ward, Donovan and Keenan.

There being no further nominations Mr J. A. Murdoch was declared County Chairman for to'e ers’dner vc n ’\' THANKS FOR ELECTION.

On taking the Chair Mr Murdoch said the honour conferred was deeply appreciated by him, especially as it had been an unanimous vote, The position was a very honourable one, and he felt sure that every Chairman fulfilled the position with every endeavour for the benefit of the people. He foresaw a difficult year. The financial position would be stringent, and the timber and other revenue would be difficult, They would have to face the position and exorcise every possible care and economy in thp work of the Council. The time ’had now arrived, lie thought, when their South Westland forests would have to be tapped. It would be their duty to carry out the duties of the local body with every possible care, at the same time ensuring a continuance of the present efficiency in the carrying out of the work of the Council, They had, last evening, the Minister of Mines, who said that he had already overdrawn his moneys for expenditure. That was an instance of the difficulties of the present position, Mr Murdoch concluded by expressing a wish that every assisting would he given by members in carrying on the functions. of the Council in a successful manner. past services recorded.

Mr Murdoch moved that a hearty vote of thank’s be recorded of the services rendered by the retiring Councillors, Messrs Houston _ and Wells, who had served the ratepayers we'l. Seconded by Mr M c ‘Kay and carried.

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS. The Chairman extended a welcome to the two new members, Messrs Jamieson and McKay, to the Council table, and trusted that their services would be given freely for tile benefit of the ratepayers. Messrs Keenan, Chesterman, Ward, Searle, Donovan, a n d Jeffries joined in the welcome of the new members.

Mr Jeffries, referring to the election of the Chairman, urged that the rules of debate be strictly carried out in the future. He congratulated the Chairman because he thought he was the proper man for the position, especially as, in the prospect of a mining revival, his personal knowledge would he a special value. The financial 'position was much wo-ise than last year and every care would have to he given to the position in. view of the 'straitened finances.

Mr IV. A. Jamieson, returned thanks fo,r the welcome,, and said it was a pleasure to be associated with members. He hoped the two new members would he on acquisition to the Council, for that was. why they had come. Mr J. J- MoTCav also thanked members for their kindly welcome, and lie l’apo'l that, his services would prove of value to the ratepayers. This concluded the special meeting which ndjotmed at 12.30 p.m. until 2 p.m. for the ordinary meeting.

ROLL OF COUNTY CHAIRMEN. John MrWhirtei 1877 H. L. Robinson 1878 J. Grimraoud