TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 164, 28 November 1912, Page 7

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

ELECT [OX OP CHAIRMAN. The confidence reposed in Mr. J. Brown as chairman of the Taranaki County Council, was borne out yesterday by Ills election to ihe office of chairman for the ensuing 12 months, for the seventh time in succession. In proposing the re-election of Mr. Brown at the annual meeting of the Council yesterday, Cr. D. McAllum remarked that he did not "want to pour too much treacle down his back," but there was no doubt that he had given complete satisfaction Mr. McAllum expressed the hope that Mr. Brown would continue in office and give his services in the same courteous and efficient manner that had marked his administration evel' since he (Cr. McAllum) had been associated with the Council.

Cr. M. Hopson expressed great pleasure in seconding the motion, and went on to say that the chairman had not spared himself. Whatever he did he had performed to the best of his ability and to the entire satisfaction of councillors.

Cr. A. Morton also heartily supported the chairman's nomination, stating that he had known Mr. Brown for a long time and was satisfied that he was tlie right man to undertake the onerous duties of chairman. He felt sure that his work would be faithfully carried out.

Other councillors also added their meed of praise, and the motion was carried unanimously. In returning thanks for his re-election, Cr. Brown said that he was now entering upon his seventh year as chairman. His aim all along had been that the Council should be progressive, and he thought that up to the present the Council was in a better position than when he first took charge. When he assumed office the Council had only about half-a-dozen men on the, roads, which number now totalled about seventeen. The riien could not do justice to the roads if they had too big a stretch to look after. The Council had been progressive, but its progression was limited to the extent of its means. Councillors could not go quite as far as they would like to —to go into debt to get more laborsaving machinery would not be wise, He was, however, looking forward to moving in the direction of obtaining another road roller next financial year. Passing on, the chairman contended that it would, be inadvisable yet awhile to think of going in for .another metal crusher. There was not sufficient work to keep two machines going. Touching on another point, he said that the Council should make some provision for reducing the debt on the Council buildings in Robe street. They had land alongside the buildings, which might be sold and the proceeds utilised for the purpose, but he thought it would be wiser to hold on to the land for a while, with a view to getting an increased price later on. In the future it might be advisable to increase the size of the buildings, and in this connection it was possible that the Council might be able to induce the Taranaki Hospital Board 'to take up its headquarters there.

Councillors decided to meet on the first Monday in each month during Uie ensuing year.