MANUKAU COUNTY'S EXCHAIRMAN

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 335, 4 December 1917, Page 3

MANUKAU COUNTY'S EXCHAIRMAN

Mr H. R. McKenzie Entertained

There was a large and representative gathering of settlers of Manukau, Franklin and adjoining Counties present at Tiffin's Restaurant, Auckland, last Friday evening on the occasion of a social promoted by the members of the Manukau County Council in honour of Mr H. R. Mackenzie, the ex-chairman of the Council, who had been defeated at the recent, election, and Mr J C Bryant, who had retired from the representation of the Papatoetoe Hiding. The proceedings were presided over by Cr A. D. Bsll, who his succeeded Mr McKetzia as chairman, and am'»ng the company present were Sir F. Ling M.P. (Speaker of the House of Representatives) and Mr C. J. Parr, M P. As a preliminary to his speech in proposing the toast of " The British Empire and its Allies," Mr Parr, M.P, expressed the pleasure it gave him to be there to do honour to MiMackenzie. He (Mr Pair) first kaow Mr M ick-inzie as chairman of the Mangere B»ad Boar.l and as a user of a motor-car he appreciated the good rrads the Mangere Road Board, thanks to Mr McKenzie, had pro vid d. Mr Mackenzie did things whole-heartedly and thoroughly. When the war was over he (the speaker) would if he again, taking part in local government work put first and forward in his policy " good roads for the Auckland province." He felt ashamed o f the Great South Road and other roads, lie looked forward to the time when there would be concrete roads from Auckland to Hamilton and from Auckland to Wbangerei and he urged that the local authorities should combine to bring those about Mr Parr, in conclusion, humorously remarked that he was sorry that Mr Mackenzie had met the fate which always at one time or another befell public men but he trusted that Mr Mackenzie's retirement would not be permanent but only temporary. (Applause) In responding to the toast of " The National Government," Sir F. Lang paid testimony to the able work performed by Mr Mackenzie and Mr Bryant during their County Council membership.

The toast of " Our Guests " was submitted by the 'Chairman (Or A D. Bell), who alluded to the good fellowship that had always prevailed on the Council between Messrs Mackenzie and Bryant and their fellowmembers. The system of roadmaking that existed in the County had been instituted by Mr Mackenzie and if the roads were not all that could be dasi-ed yet he claimed they compared more than favourably with the roads in adjoining Counties. Crs Hattaway and Brownhill both supported the toast, the foimer mentioning that instead of building imposing offices the Manukau County Council had pu chased plant and he thought they could claim the possession of as good roads as anywhere in the Auckland province He anticipated that Mr Mackenzie would in due course be standing for a seat in Parliament and he believed he would be returned by an overwhelming majority. (Applause) Mr Mackenzie, in replying to the toast, tbauked the company for coming there to r.il'y round him and ho particularly appreciated the attendance of so many representatives of other local bodies. He had, he -uid, advocated tiie purchase' by combined local b >die* of an up-to-date quarry at PapaLura and representatives of Franklin C >unty Council and Manurewa Town Board had sent leprcspiitatives to a conference thereon If that proposal was givon effect to an unlimited supply of metal could be run out for all places between Puke kohe and Auckland and then they would have good roads. Mr Mackenzie next referred to the provision of the Mangero Bridge, which, he stated, was the largest brigde in oncrete in Australasia He also recalled the days of the sfartof the Manukau County Council when wth funds scarce thrir Clerk (Mr Alex Bell), whom they inicrht call ''Father," ha I often to draw his own cheque to pay o .t wages, the number.-- of ihe Oourcil also peisjnally yuaranrrHrg the] hank oveidiaft. In com liimo-!, Mi Mackenzie eta'.ed that in retiringfrom the Cuuutil he had th-i saris faction of leaving his ;"• I sin trere" riding fres of deb' an-] hfi n l ied '• J have been beaien bat, Geut'o:u n, you who take an interns in r .cir.g matters will understand what X me in when I say that Desert Gold wa< once beaten." (I.ou l applause) Mr Bryant also suitably replied. Other toasts followed, Cr Claud Motion (Frankiin County) responding to the toast of " Neighbouring Authorities."