VETERANS RETIRE.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 13 November 1917, Page 4

VETERANS RETIRE.

REHIRING COUNTY COUNCILLORS' ! [RECORD. | At the conclusion of the meeting of ; the Horowhenua County Council on Saturday, the chairman, Cr. iloak. invited the Council, the clerk, the engineer and i:he preali representatives to dine m.tli him at Miss McKegg's rooms. All the Councillors were present and after djinner had been done justice to the chairman referred to the fact that ;ho four senior Councillors would not seek re-election t'liv year. "Wo are losing practically the connecting link between the years that have gone before and our day," said Cr. 'Monk. Or. Kebbell, he pointed ou; was a member of ilie Manawatu County Council in 1878 and after tihat he came to Horowhenua and helped to establish this County Council. Cr. Venn had 27 years' service continuously; a great} part of the existence of the Council. | Cr. Freeman had been 21 years and 1 nearly 22 on the Council and Cr. Step- j henson had' been a member 18 years. H The thing that always struck tho S speaker was what a lot the Council it owed to the older members what hard- [ ships these men; had to put up j wi)';h in the earlier diays of settlement when there were no roads and they had practically to ride over the open country to attend Council meetings. The younger generation owod them a .great deal. When the speaker was entering public affairs, a frtiend advised him not to think too much about the immediate present, but to have his eyes glued on the future. That was evidently lUie idea that animated tho men who were now retiring, and in our day tho people wore reaping the benefit. "Wo are looking forward to still greater .improvements in the roads and I hope our old members wil'l live to see ahat so.ine about." continued the chairman. His first two years in ';bo Council were spent under Cr. Venn's chairmanship andl then under Cr. Stephenson, and he felt that a good deal of his knowledge of Courli'jy affairs w# gained during that time. Cr. Kebbell occupied far many years the position of chairman of the Council. Or. Freeman was not going entirely out of public affairs for he would remain for a. time on the Wellington Hospital Board. The speaker recalled Cr. Venn's great fight for the severance of ';hc Horowhenua County from the AYellington Hospital District and said lie mu'-t feel satisfied to-day to know that what he fought for had been achieved at larf':. Though he had not remained in the battle till the finish it was his .arguments and tactics that liadi as-aisted in winning ';he day. As fair as the County was concerned it was suffering a great loss in parting with Councillors of such long experience. But no man could carry on for ever, and now T that younger men would talk© their places, perhaps ,ihey would give the new Councillors the benefit of their knowledge and experience, whenever they desired it. He felt sure the retiring members wore going out with very friendly feelings towards i'dli'e Council, though they must feel a pang of regret. Circumstances ruledi these events, however, and all must bow to the inevitable. The speaker had been returned again and would do hits best to carry on thi work of the County, and; 'lie fcfcitliat if he wanted any advice lie could go freely to these gentlemen who wore leaving them. Cr. Monk finally wished the retiring Councillors long life and every liappinc'.s;. (Applause.)

Cr. Catley said all the work being done to_day was being built on foundations laid by the .retiring members years ago. Tie felf; that although their presence was being lost to the Council their experience would always be available.

The health of the retiring Councillors was then toasted.

Cr. Ke/bboll said 1; gave him the greatest satisfaction to know that tho big overdraft had been wiped off before he retired. Year after year it was promised that 'this position would, be 'reached "next year," but it was not nntiill the present year that the overdraft had gone. Cr Kebbell said Advancing years and growing infirmity and I'ihe fact that he now had to work his farm alone made it necessary for him to withdraw from the Council. "I feel this severance," continued Cr. Kebbell- speaking with deep emotion. "I feel having to leave the Council after so many years." Ho thanked the chairman for his references to himselif and referred ibo one or two early experiences when he had to ridie across country to attend the Council mrot-

mgs. Mr Goldsmith, the County Clerk, said that though ho had only boon with, the Coucil for a little while, he was a near neighbour for fen years and so could speak with some knowledge of the retiirng councillors. He could l not help a feeling of sadness that they had reached the parting of the "ways and it wag a very natural Reeling in 'those who were a'bout to break with the past. But those who were leaving the Conned had the consolation that they knew that in their long course of public work they had done their best. Cr Stephenson was chairman when the Levin Borough was formed and the speaker foundi him a very fine man ;io get on with'- —always fair and just in his dealings. Mr Goldsmith said 'lio would always retain in his memory the recollection of Cr Venn's clear and incisive voice which for so many years had expressed "the opinion of this council that the time has now arrived when we should demand from 'the Government" etc. He had had a long innings and now retired with the knowledge that many of the things he fought for had been achieved. The speaker would like to know the man who could quarrel with Cr Freeman whose kindliness and courtesy were known to all. Cr Kebbell had an especially long record of public service, and, as one of tlie staff, Mr Goldsmith expressed li& regret at the retirement of these gentlemen. Cr Venn shanked the speakers for their references to himself and said that when he entered the Council his end of the County had no roads nor an apologv for roads. He came in t-o try and get roads and had stuck I there ever since. For many years' lie was the only councillor to support the partition of the hospital district mid he was 'therefore glad to have lired to see it accomplished. So far as the Council was concerned, he had always got on well with the Councillors and

they with him. He believed there had been more good done during the past two years than in all i:he previous years. Cr Freeman said he regretted severing his connection with the Council, but he had come to the conclusion that ho would like ,';o 6ee younger men *u office. The last three yeare had been especially pleasant and he cordially thanked the other members for the assistance given him. Otaki must be a very easy riding to work judging bv t';.he lew complaints that came in or else the people were easily satisfied there. Things were not always so pleasant, however, and he referred to a time when four Councillors had to give the Bank a cheque for £1500 to enable the Council lio carry on.

Cr Stephenson said that as a matter of fact he was kicked into the Council against his wish as he had no ambition andl never aspired to the position. Looking back, he could feel no regie; at any action of his while

representing the ratepayers, though there were many thiings he had not done that lie would have liked to have done. They had the satisfaction of knowing thai';, both financially and socially, they were leaving things in a better state than they had ever been. He was very pleased .with certain tilings such as the hospital severance, the liquidation of the overdraft and the adjustment of the boundaries, had been accomplished. It should be an easy job for the new Councillors, andl the speaker would not have retired if he had not been leaving the district and so lost his qualification.

Tho chairman proposed the health of "The Staff." He said the Council had a pearl in its clerk. Ho must have a great heart to have tackled the affairs of 'die Council as he had done. He had worked on hi.glidays and holidays and the chairman emphasised that whatever happened the Clerk was never known t-o growl or utter a complaint. Ho hadl been able to save the Council three times his salary during the year, and ;he speaker thought that ought to be recognised. Since they had got Mr Malcolm a car the Engineer had been able to give the Council much better service, and now that they had given him a road roller, they hoped he would give iilie County better roads. The only thing lie had to overcome was lik failing for exceeding tho estimates. The chairman added that the young lady in the County office was a very capable member of the staff and must be of greafc assistance to the Clerk.

Mr Malcolm saidl the chairman could never help referring to his "extravagance," but tho Engineer reminded him that £7000 or £8000 of raten had been written off iu previous years, and if they had been collected, there would have been no overdraft':; and no lack of money for various works. He had been 17 years in the Council and was sorry to lose his old friends because at his time of life a man did not make friends so readily. The Engineer thanked the company for ihonouring ho health of ';he staff.

Cr. Catley observed; that if the Council allowed the Engineer to exceed the estimates the Council was to blame.

Mr Goldsmith also acknowledged lie toast and s.tid the first 18 months had been very hard ones indeed. He did not claim credit for getting in tho rates. They must remember times had been good..

Cr Ryder expressed the opinion that iu its chairman and: clerk the Council had two real goldmines.

The chairman proposed 'tflie of "The Press," acknowledged by representatives present. Cr. Stephenson proposed the health of "The Chairman," which was honoured and the gathering came to a close.