Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, NOV. 28. 1891. The County Chairman.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 28 November 1891, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, NOV. 28. 1891. The County Chairman.

On Wednesday the Manawatu County Council paid Councillor Ransom the honour of again electing him chairman. We congratulate the chairman upon his re-election and can honestly say that we believe the Council acted most wisely, as Councillor Ransom has shown dming his past occupancy of that office, a careful attention to his duties, and a pleasant manner in conducting the routings of the Council. There is, as we well kuow, a large amount of work and anxiety in acting as the chief executive officer of a large territory, like a County. A little backbone, or a little bending has at times to be suddenly decided upon to save or lose the County sums of money. The Chairman is the depository of all the griefs of settlers who cannot understand why their roads are not made before any others ; he is the Council, to many ratepayers ideas, and he . alone is to be blamed if the account at the bank is ovev&awn, o* the oontraotQ?

endeavours go scamp his work. If, at a Couucil something is omitted to j be clone, the Chairman is the only j Councillor to be blamed, as does he not receive a salary ? and a man who does, has no business to forjet anything. These are a few of the reasons that enables a chairman to find out the position is not a bed of roses. The other side proves that in the eyes of his fellow settlers he is a conscientions and able man, fitted to be entrusted with such responsibilities, and the position yet has been accepted as one honourable to occupy. We admit that Coun cillors do a great deal of work, give up a lot of time towards assisting the developemeut of the district, but their work ceases from time to time, but the chairman's never. During the pecuniary troubles of the County, a very wise eftort was made for retrenchment, and though the greater part of tbis burden was placed upon the clerk, yefc the Chairman's salary was also considerably cut down. The retrenchment has borne fruit, and the finances of the County are now in a most satisfactory state. This being so, we venture to suggest that as the remuneration to both clerk and chairman is smaller than is made in Counties dealing with a similarly large revenue, the return of better times should be inaugurated by a more fitting payment for services rendered. With the experience we have of the character of the work that is done, we honestly think an increase is justly due to both these gentlemen.