MANUREWA.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 412, 24 September 1918, Page 3

MANUREWA.

MANUREWA TOWN BOARD

NEW CHAIRMAN ELECTED

The first meeting of the newly elected Manurewa Town Board was held in the Town Hall last (Monday) evening, the members present being Messrs 0. H. Lupton, E S. Pegler, F. W. Wood, T. J. Corin, E J Butterworth, Geo. Cozhead and Geo. Smith, with the Clerk (Mr H. Kay) ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

The Clerk occupied the chair at the commencement of the meeting and called for nominations for the position of Chairman. Mr E S. Pegler proposed Mr C. H. Lupton, and in so doing said Mr Lupton had not only the confidence of ratepayers but of the party of which he was a member.

Mr Smith seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Lupton, in returning thanks, expressed appreciation of the honour done him in electing him as chairman. He congratulated the five members of the old Board who had been returned. During his term of office, he said, he would endeavour to have three matters in particular put through, viz., (1) The Town Board to free themselves from the Omnty Council ; (2) To obtain a lo tn to have the bridge on the north side of the station done and (3) To get the reserve of the old railway line transferred from the Department to the Board. He would look forward to those works being carried out. He was certain that the new Board would do all in its power to conserve the interests of the ratepayers of Manurewa.

THANKS TO EX-MEMBERS, Messrs H. V Barton and C. Cox w«re on the motion of die Chairman, seconded Ly Mr Wood, accorded a hearty vote i f thanks for 'heir services as members of tha late Bo.rd

the n,Ei:K>Jiir. R.girdiagthocleikship the Chairman jrave uotice that at tin n x meeting h<* would move tha' tin; resolution of th" old Bo rl ai,pointing Mr A G M iboe as the |i una nent 01*>rk be reminded >nid fat !h----acting Clerk, Mr H Kav, wh • wa- h returned soldier who hid prove 1 hi » self most nap-hie, hj» appointed pjrmanently 11 the pmm inn. (' .tXSTITfII A'AI, AXOM \I.K< In reply to th- Oil -i rn m, 'h Clerk stated that he H.urd'x >i-

count wa« nv< rd awn at !i B k t thn-xt-nr of t"3l 13s 7 Th- Chat-nun stated tha* ■

same wi'h ruiwit arouiits wliicli were deferred for payment until np\-r meeting, meant that the new Board

would commence operations with a debit balanco of about £7O. He thought the existing law regarding the financial year closing on March 31st and elections taking place in September was inconsistent and should be altered. Such was very unfair to incoming Boards. He was of opinion that the elections should be held as soon after the end of the financial year as possible to enable new Boards to start afresh. He moved that a letter on lines as indicated by him should be forwarded to other Town Boards with a recommendation that the matter be brought under the notice of the Municipal Association with a view to having the dato of the elections altered.

Mr Corin strongly supported the Chairman's suggestion and seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

TOWN HALL LOAN With regard to the loan for the purchase of the Town Hall the Chairman reported that arrangements had been made with the Board's solicitors to get the necessary money, upon a repayment spread over a period of 36 years. With reference to the improvement to the Hall grounds the Chairman said that if the Board found the material the Tennis Club had agreed to do the work. He was always willing to help those who were willing to help themselves and he was pleased the members of the Tennis Club had come forward with an offer to assist.

DUAL CONTROL Speaking regarding the matter of rates collected. Mr Pegler stated that for every £1 collected by the Board the Manukau County Council collected £l 15s. He thought an endeavour should be made to get the County Council to spend a fair proportion of the money collected on the roads ia the Town Board area. The ratepayers were not satisfied that they were getting a fair proportion of the Connty rate money expended on the local roads. He suggested that a committee should be set up to advise the Board from month to month as to improvements that should be asked for from the County Council. The Chairman stated that in the past they had made strenuous efforts to get the County Council to spend more money but all they had received was a promise. Eventually, on the motion of Mr Wood, it was decided to write the Manukau County Council asking if they would receive a deputation from the Board on the matter at the next meeting of the Council.

DAYS OF MEETING It was decided to continue to meet on the fourth Monday in every month INSPECTION 01' ROADS.

The matter of arranging a date on which the whole Board should meet to carry out an inspection of the various roads was left in the hands of the Works Committee.