The Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1907. COUNCIL COMMITTEES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3765, 4 May 1907, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1907. COUNCIL COMMITTEES.

The various committees in conjunction with the local Borough Council have been set up for the ensuing year. We are firm believers in the setting up of such committees. It systematises the work of the Council and each department is thoroughly controlled—that is provided committeemen recognise their responsibilities. It is a farce to set up committees if they do not meet nor make any attempt to carry out their functions or present monthly reports to the Council. Better not set them up at all. The most important committee on any council is the Works. Its duties are to supervise repairs, and recommend all new works to be undertaken ; to plan out the duties of the overseer and his staff. In all boroughs of importance the Works Committee’s report is of primary importance. This year’s Works Committee consists of the Mayor, Crs Hennessy, G. Coley, Austin and Gray. It is unusual for any committee to consist of half the Council. Such a committee overrides the Council, and can bring down any report and force it through. In the setting up of this committee this fact has been overlooked. In a council consisting of ten members no committee should number more than four. The members of the Works Committee are practical men and much good work should be accomplished in the borough as a result of their efforts. Another important committee is the Reserves. It numbers six councillors! Foxton is richly endowed with reserves and we should like to see a report presented to the Council and published showing what is the total acreage, where the property is situated, its approximate value, and what revenue the said reserves are returning to the people. We hope to be able to publish these facts for the information of every man, woman, and child in the borough, in whom the property is vested. The other committee set up is the

library, which has plenty of work to keep it employed.’ The setting up of a lighting committee was apparently overlooked. We suggest that monthly reports from each committee be submitted at the regular monthly meetings, which we are sure, , would be perused with interest by burgesses. The various committees have plenty of work ahead, and we are confident that they will peform their allotted tasks to the full satisfaction of the ratepayers.