HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Shannon News, 4 June 1926, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL.

FIRST MEETING AFTER ELECTIONS

The statutory annual meeting of the Horowhenua County Council was held On Wednesday for the election of chairman. Pil'Oir to it the Estimates were considered and jpassed. The Chairman (Mr G. A. Monk) presided and there were also .present Grs. Jensen, Catley, McLeavey, Kilsby, Bryant, Ryder, Whyte and Barber.

■ NEW COUNCILLORS WELCOMED. The chairman extended a welcome to the new councillors, Messrs MoLea vey and Kilsby. They were new to the work and he would say to them that there was no finer education for any man than to take part in local body work. He felt sure that when they had been a year in office they would have benefited in knowledge ancl the affairs of the County would also, he believer, benefit. They would also have a greater knowledge of the inner working of the County. They were replacing 'wo very valuable men in Mr Harkness, who retired voluntarily, and Mr Broad-belt, who had to go out at the will of the ratepayers. Mr Broadbelt was not a man of great ostentation. He- did his work quietly and generally very well. He was a worker who had very little to say, but there was no one who took a greater interest in his riding or the County as i whole. He moved that the Council place on .record its appreciation of Gr. N Broadbelt's services. They had already done that in regard to Cr. Harkness.

Cr. Ryder said he had never been more concerned over a man's retire ment than in regard to Cr. Broadbelt. He felt they had lost a very valuable Councillor—"he did not do a lot o-* gas but was a solid straight forward man." Cr Ryder also welcomed the new Councillors.

Gr McLeavey thanked the chairman for his words of welcome. He would admit that he had not had much ex perience in local body work but ho had eyes in his head and a certain amount of intelligence and intended to apply himself to County affairs He regretted the defeat of M>r Breadbelt, but it was the will of the rate payers, who evidently thought, a charge (Was det-irable. -He honeatlj thought that Mr Broadbelt was an honest straightforward Councillor. Gr Kilsby said he had felt very much put out when he ha* heard that Mr Broadbelt had not been elected, and lie appreciated all he had done for the County. The speaker intended to carry on the work Mr Broadbelt had done and to do his best for the interests of the Council ae a whole.

SETTING UP COMMITTEES. GIVING NEW COUNCILLORS A CHANCE.

The Chairman said the setting up of Works and Finance Committees was rather a problem. Whatever criticism there had been of the "County Council had been .directed at its public works. [ While he did not admit that there was anything .wrong, the Chairman said, he wanted the m coming councillors to have every opportunity of investigating fully every part of the. County affairs. But the councillors they were replacing \vev« both on the Finance Committee, and if Grs.. McLeavey and Kilsby were appointed to the vacancies they woul:l not be brought in close touch with work throughout the County, and it might be said thai he was preventing them from enquiring into those things that they were sent into the Council to investigate. A suggest!on had been made that Cr. Bryant be transferred from the Works Committee to make way for one of. the new councillor, but'the chairman of the Works Committee did not want <o lose Cr. Bryant. After consideration a suggestion was adapted that Cr. McLeavey go on the Finance Committee and Cf. Kilsby on Works, and that--Gr. Bryant, be a member of both committees. The Works Committee w iU therefore comprise. Grs. Ryder (chairman), Catley, Jensen, ■< Kilsby, Barber and Bryant, whilst Grs. McLeavey, Whyte. Bryant, and the Chairman constitute the Finance Committee. OHAU WATER RACE.

Mr W. Kilshv, Levin, offered to deviate the water race at Ohau to the satisfaction of the Engineer if the Council would put in the culvert an-1 pav him £ls as their share of the work—lt was decided to put in th° culvert and Day £7 10s towards the diversion of the water race.