CHAIRMAN RETIRES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5410, 12 April 1929, Page 3

CHAIRMAN RETIRES.

PLAINS COUNTY COUNCIL. REVIEW OF WORK DONE. At the conclusion of business at yesterday’s meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council Cr. E. L. Walton, county chairman, stated that as it was the last meeting of the present council he would, as was customary, review the work undertaken during the term of the council. Whether the ratepayers were satisfied or not, the council had cause to feel gratified with what it had done iri the past three years. In that period 34 miles of new metal had been laid, six miles of road had been bituminised, 26 miles of main highway had been reconditioned and brought up to standard, and 22 miles of county road had been reconditioned. In addition, so far as all roads were concerned, the maintenance had been carried out so that their state compared favourably with those of other districts. Two big bridges had been built —the Kopu and the one nearing completion at Waitakaruru — two water supply schemes brought into operation—the Hauraki Plains West and the Pekapeka Road schemes —two ferries had been opened-—Pipi—-roa and the one at Ngarua, which was a joint undertaking with the Lands Drainage Department—and two houses had been built. While he had been familiar with all the financial undertakings, he was surprised on going through the records to see'the total of the moneys paid out. It amounted to £255,000 — over a quarter of a million pounds. This represented loans, subsidies, rates, hospital levies, and interest. Ih the same three-year period the receipts had totalled £242,000, but the council had not overspent its money, for the difference was loan balances. .In the ridings £26,000 had been spent out of rates, and to this must be added main highway subsidy of £26,500, loans £lll,OOO, grants £2OOO, subsidies, £21,500, while there was £lO,o'oo of subsidy yet to be received on account of works not yet completed. These figures gave some idea of the magnitude of the council’s operations in the last three years. He was sure that all fair-minded men would realise that the council had passed through a strenuous time, and while it may have erred, as all councils do, and always will, it had not erred in the big things. In the past three years the council had earned subsidy amounting to £50,000. This should be taken into consideration, and ratepayers should realise that the council had not been lax in getting from the Consolidated Fund its share of subsidy.

As he was retiring from the coum cil he, perhaps, felt more free to speak than did those councillors who were again standing, and would say that the works undertaken would not have been possible had a council been elected which did not have the interest of the district as a whole at heart. In conclusion Mr' Walton said he felt sure that if the present councillors were re-elected the ratepayers would be well repaid, and that affairs would go on as well as before.

Cr. Miller’s Farewell.

Cr. J. G. Miller also bade farewell to the council. He said he had decided hot to stand again, but not for any reason of pique, for he did pot think that a more broad-minded body of men could be selected from the county. From its inception the council had more difficulties to surmount than did most councils. It had to start from the very beginning, and it was severely handicapped by lack of metal within its boundaries. Now metal was being obtained more reasonably than ever before, and the whole of the work was proceeding smoothly and more easily than ever before. The new council would have an easy time, as their work would be "just a matter of carrying on. He believed that his successor, whoever he might be, would have as good a time as he had had. The affairs of his farm required him to give more attention to them than he had given in the past. A man who was a member of a local body could not plan his work, for public affairs intervened. He had never disappointed the public in the .past, and his farm had suffered, so he now felt that the time had come when he would have to give up public affairs until such time as he could afford the money and time. He .wished to thank councillors for bearing with him, and for the ~ happy times spent together. Regret of Council. Cr. C. W. Harris expressed the regret of the council that Crs. Walton and Miller had seen fit to leave, coming to their decision after careful consideration. He was privileged to express the council’s appreciation of the work done by both members. “We on the council,” he said, “know your worth even better than do the ratepayers, even though you may receive such expressions of appreciation as you did to-day from the people of Turua.” Cr. Harris expressed the hope that the ratepayers of the Ngatea and Kopuarahi ridings would select able men, who would endeavour to maintain the standard set by Crs. Walton and Miller.

Cr. J. F. Mayn endorsed Cr. Harris’ remarks, and said that he had also sat with Crs. Walton and Miller since the formation of the council, and could say that both of them had always dealt fairly with the council and with the ratepayers. Cr. C. W. Parfitt, the other foundation member of the council, added his meed of praise, and expressed his sorrow that Crs. Walton and Miller were leaving.

Cr. J. A. Reid said that in his three years of office he had learned to appreciate the. fair manner in which both had tackled the work of the council, especially the chairman, who had always been willing to give his attention to matters of the riding, and who had frequently, at great inconvenience to

himself, attended meetings of ratepayers, etc. Cr. W. Madgwick said that both members had been genuine workers, and he felt that their worth was appreciated by the ratepayers. It would be a long time before the council got a chairman of the equal of Mr Walton. The council was richer for having had a man of his calibre to lead it. Cr. A. S. Fisher-also expressed his appreciation and thanked the chairman for his assistance in regard te the work of the Kerepeehi riding.

A Presentation,

Cr. Madgwick announced that the councillors and the executive officers of the council had decided to make a presentation to the retiring members. Cr. C. W. Harris, one of the senior members, made the presentation, and said that the councillors had already expressed what they thought, and now had entrusted him with the duty of handing over some small tokens of sincere appreciation, esteem, and regard. They were not of great intrinsic value, but it was hoped that they would convey for all time the appreciation of the councillors and staff.

Cr. Walton’s present was a fountain pen and a case of pipes, and Cr. Miller was given a cigarette holder and a fountain pen. Cr. Walton, in replying, said that in his past three years as councillor he had never had such an uncomfortable quarter of an hour. In a district where there was so much to be done councillors had, by elaborating on what had been done, made him conscious of how much had been left undone. He had said that moments like the past quarter’ of an hour had made him feel uncomfortable, but they were also moments which made it feel worth while. In times to come, when he encountered difficulties, he would have the councillors’ mementos as. a token of difficulties met and surmounted. Before sitting down he wished to add his token of praise to the work of Cr. Miller. He had rightly been called the father of the council, for when it was started his was the longest head and he the only man with previous experience. While the last three years had seen most work done, it was in previous years that the path had been hewn for the present council to travel smoothly along.

Cr. J. C. Miller said that he did not know where he was. It was not the usual thing for members to treat those retiring as he and Cr. Walton were being treated. He knew his faults, and knew that he was too slow. All through, the council had had the advantage of the legal knowledge and training of Mr Walton, and without him and his capacity to clearly see the right course, he did not know where the council would have drifted to. Mr Walton’s knowledge of county work and local knowledge combined with his ability were the council’s crowning asset.

Cr. Miller said that he could leave the council table with the knowledge that he had always done what was fair. He was thankful that his departure was not due to any friction, arid was grateful to know that he was leaving a body of men who were well able to carry on.