OHINEMURI COUNTY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5428, 24 May 1929, Page 2

OHINEMURI COUNTY.

ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING. INFORMAL DISCUSSION. After the annual meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council on Monday for the statutory election of chairman a general informal discussion ensued. Cr. Morris was of the opinion that members of the new council should make themselves acquainted with the whole county, and not only their own individual ridings. At the next meeting he would have an important subject to bring up in connection with his riding, and he thought it would be much better if other councillors had first-hand knowledge of it so as to aid him. The chairman said the suggestion was one he had meant bringing up at the next meeting. It was usual with boroughs for all the councillors to make a tour soon after election, but of course that could not be done by the county. He certainly thought, though, that councillors should make tours to see as much as possible of the county. Cr. Hoye, the newly elected member for the Waihi riding, supported Cr. Morris’ suggestion. As far as his riding was concerned, there was a considerable amount of dissatisfaction there. He thought it would be a good idea if councillors would go round and meet the ratepayers. While it might not be possible for them to go over the whole of the county, they should go over as much as possible. Back roads at Waihi needed attention, and some scheme should be formulated to get the outside roads metalled. The speaker said that whilst casting no reflection whatever on the office, there was too much loss of time in connection with road metalling. He had observed men leaning on their shovels waiting for metal. The men were good workers, but were starved for lack of material and metal. The position must be rectified. The new member for Waitekauri, Cr. Thornton, considered that the council’s money was not being spent to the best advantage. There was certainly very little money to spare, but some work if done immediately would save money in the future. He thought Cr. Morris’ suggestion that councillors should cover as much ground as possible in the county was excellent. Cr. Mace mentioned that he had advocated this procedure when he was first elected. Shortly afterwards he had made a tour of the Waihi Plains, and was agreeably surprised to see the difference since His first visit. However, the matter of these tours was in the councillors’ own hands, and at their own expense. Councillors must be prepared to do something for nothing. They should arrange the matter of tours among themselves. The new councillors would find in due course that at each meeting members found before them a slip prepared by the clerk whereon the state of their riding funds was enumerated. By that they were placed in a position to know how much money they had to spend. Cr. Robinson remarked that it was rather refreshing to hear the councillor from Waihi. He had not blamed anybody, and it was evidently his honest ambition to do his best for his riding. Agreement with Cr.’ Morris’ suggestion was also expressed by Cr. Johnstone. Personally he had seer; every road in the county. ? ' Cr. Morrison objected most strongly to the idea. He maintained that it was the duty of the chairman, and of the engineer as a paid servant of the county, to be conversant with the roads. He did not see why councillors should go round when there were paid servants to do the work. Councillors should not go to the expense of making tours. Ratepayers were taxed so high that it was hard for some of them to make both ends mee*. As 'councillors they should economise to the limit. He was not in favour of joy-riding on the part of members. The speaker emphasised that it was the engineer’s duty to attend to the roads and report monthly. He, too, had seen men leaning on their shovels waiting for metal In conclusion, Cr. Morrison congratulated Cr Mason on his election as chairman, and said that if in that position he would look after the interests of the ratepayers he was prepared to support him. If not, he would be up against him. ’ The chairman considered that the engineer was doing the best he possibly could. There certainly had been quite a lot -of bungling over side roads, but in future they would -be given attention as well as main roads. The main roads must be kept up, though at the same time the council would use every endeavour to put the by-roads in condition. Cr. Johnstohe supported the contention that the engineer should be instructed to get the work done. He must do it or report why he had not done so. The engineer was a paid servant of the council, and must act accordingly. Complaints as to work undone had been made time and again. The main highways received attention, but for the side roads it was hard to get anything done. Speaking of the Thames road, the council’s section of it was now in somewhat better condition, but did not compare in any way favourably with the Thames County’s portion. Concluding, the speaker said he had seen the main roads all over New Zealand, and barring a stretch in Tauranga County the Ohinemuri County roads were the worst in New Zealand.