PLAINS COUNTY COUNCIL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4551, 16 April 1923, Page 1

PLAINS COUNTY COUNCIL

“A HAPPY FAMILY.” OFFICERS EULOGISED. At Monday’s meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council Cr. Mayn said that as that was the las’ meeting o': the present council he would like to express his appreciation of the treatment he had received from the other members, and to state that it had given him very great pleasure to be a councillor. Cr. McLoughlin said it gave him great pleasure to be a member of such a fine body. ; Every indication pointed to the fact that the Council was out tp do all it couid for the county. The chairman had been fair and just. The Council would not have been so successful had it not had such a clerk, who, by his legal knowledge alone, had saved the Council thousands of pounds.

Cr. Hayward said that he had enjoyed his term of office very much. Perhaps there had been too much work, but there had never been any hard feeling between members. The chairman was the right man in the right place, and he always had matters thrashed out to the bitter end. The next council would have a very much better time, and would get a lot of credit for work done by the first council.

Cr. Parfitt said the work of the Council had just begun. He was going to contest the seat again, and would like to sec all members back again, or, if there was any change, to see men as good. The chairman had done his duty well, and if the had been long it had all been for the best. The Council had been very fortunate in having sucn an able clerk.

Cr. Chatfield said he regretted that he had to sever his connection.) as he was leaving the district. With such men as the present councillors, tba chairman, and the clerk, the destinies of the county were in good hands. Crs. Harris and Hare also spoke, and endorsed the previous speakers' remarks.

Cr. Miller, the chairman, thanked members for their remarks, and said that no one could feel more proud than lie to be associated with such a council composed of broad-minded, unselfish, and fair men. Members had looked beyond their own ridings and acted for the county as a whole. There was not the slightest animosity between members, and he felt proud cf this. Regarding the long meetings, probably that was his fault. A lot of time had been lost, but it was better to be sure. Next term he would not like to see a new member of the council elected to the chair, but would hot he at all offended if one of the old council was elected. In expressing his appreciation of the work of the clerk, Mr Miller said that the clerk’s legal knowledge had saved the ratepayers hundreds of pounds and he had not been recompensed. The Council had a bad time for the first two years with its engineer, and the present engineer was now getting a grip of affairs. The county was different to most counties, and it would perhaps take another year to get op a square footing. The engineer had to be almost a super-man. The chairman .then extended his thanks te menibers. who had shown the greatest respect to the chair. The clerk, in returning thanks, said that he had been connected with the affairs of the county before the county was formed, and during that time no unpleasant duty had beep put upon him. A great many things he had taken an interest in had hot paid financially, but be had seen the district progress, and in that, way had been repaid. He hoped that each and every member would be returned. The engineer, in thanking members for their kind remarks, said that he had come to do his best and had tried but had been up against obstacles, If they thought he was not giving satisfaction he would make way in a moment for a better man. The job was not all engineering, or work hi had been accustomed to in the past, and it would take time to feel his feet. In his opinion, in three or four years’ time the men there would reap the benefit of jthe work the Council had done in the past.