VALEDICTORY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 115, 4 November 1911, Page 8

VALEDICTORY.

RETIREMENT OF MR. J. W. FOREMAN.

At yesterday's meeting of the Clifton County Council, the chairman (Mr. J. W. Foreman) referred to his approaching retirement from public life. He remarked that this would be the last meeting at which they would all meet together. He expected that all local bodies situate in a similar position to the Clifton County Council came in for a lot of criticism. Fair criticism he did not mind. It was good to have other people's opinions sometimes, as it 'often had a salutary effect. At times they were subject* to unfair criticism, and he instanced some correspondence which was initiated some time ago in regard to European holders of native lands not being on the roll. This was very unfair, as it was not possible to place them on the roll. iEven last week there had been some unfair criticism, when a gentleman from Tikorangi had stated that although the rates had increased there had been no improvement of the roads. For his pant he believed the roads had improved Cr. MeKenzie interjected that such a statement was absolutely false. The chairman, continuing, said that as regarded Tikorangi riding, last year over 1000 yards of metal had been laid down and 25 chains of new metalling had been completed, and he ventured to state that never in the history of Tikorangi had the roads been as good as they were today. The same applied to Waihi, where the by-roads had been graded to an extra width, and the fact that the surfaceman required no extra metal was evidence that they were in good order. The same thing applied in a large measure to TJrenui and Mokau ridings, where the surfacemen considered the roads were in better condition than even the representatives themselves did. This showed that the Council members had reason to feel reasonably satisfied that they had used

the means at their command to the best possible advantage. There were a number who did not appreciate the task the Council had to carry out. They had to maintain eight bridges of the first magnitude, i.e., over 200 feet long, upwards of 40 ranging from 40 or 50 feet to 150 feet; 00 miles of metalled road and 150 miles of unmetalled road, on a revenue of £4OOO per annum. People with experience of road maintenance would say they had done well to keep the roads up to their present standard. The new valuation had increased the revenue to about £oooo, and if the natives could be induced to recognise their responsibility towards the upkeep of the roads the revenue would .be increased. Still, even with increased means at their disposal, the .new Council would have to exewise economy and-care to keep the roads and bridges in the state he would like to .see them. He wished to thank the councillors for the support they had given him and their cheerful consideration to the business of the county generally. He also thanked Messrs. Dowsett (engineer) and Vaughan (clerk) for their help and the zeal they had shown, and tendered thanks on behalf of the county to the reporters, who, he said, had always given fair and impartial reports of the proceedings. This, he concluded, would terminate his long connection with various bodies, such as road boards, school committees, Dairy Association, Co-op. Dairy Co., and the County Council. Of the latter he had been a member for 19 years, during seven of which he had been chairman, and he need not tell them that he felt the'jar of severing his connection.

Cr. O'Sullivan said that personally he was sorry that the chairman had made up his mind not to seek re-election. His loss would be felt not only iby the Council but by the county as a whole, for there was no doubt that he had spent a lot of time in the interests of the county. He (the speaker) had been nine years a member of the Council, and he wished to return thanks to Mr. Foreman for his unfailing courtesy and consideration. Cr. McKenzie said that from one point of view he was not sorry that the chairman was retiring. He felt sure that the office must be a great strain on his health, and his retirement would probably prolong his life and enable him to enjoy many more years. Cr. Sander also thanked the chairman for his unfailing courtesy, and also, on behalf of the Ngatimaru ratepayers, thanked him for the firm stand he had taken over the Junction road question with the Tarannki County Council. ' Cr. Kennington also spoke in feeling terms.

The chairman, in returning thanks, said that he would say without egotism thait whether he had' succeeded or not he had endeavored to do what he had considered (best in the interests of the county generally. He then entertained the councillors and press to some refreshments, when the chairman's health was proposed by Mr. W. H. Xosworthy, and enthusiastically toasted. <■■■■'. Mr. Foreman, in responding, said that he could look back on his connection with public bodies with a good deal of satisfaction. He had been a member of the Tikorangi Road Board during nearly its whole existence. He had become a member of the local school committee in 187G and had remained so for thirteen or fourteen years. In 181)2, about the same time as he joined the Council, he had been one of those to buy out the Tikorangi Dairy Co., which, except that it was financed iby eight or nine men instead of by the bank, was practically co-operative, lie was also one of the first directors of the National Dairy Association, which had done much to improve the dairy industry, and as chairman of that body retained their confidence to the last. He took a great deal of pride, not so much in his ability, but in the fact that he possessed the confidence of the people with whom he had been associated for 50 vears. He was also extremely gratified' at the kindly remarks that had been made.