TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 155, 26 November 1914, Page 3

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

STATUTORY MEETING. The first (statutory) meeting of the newly elected Council met at noon yesterday, there being present:— Crs. J. Brown, J. Hill, C. Andrews, A. Morton, D. MeAllum, J. Andrews, W. Bmnie, J. A. Bridgeman, and E. H. Laurence. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. The Returning Officer, Mr Ellis, reported the result of the recent election. He then called nominations for chairman. Cr McAllum said it was only recently that lie regarded himself as a blue-eyed boy of the Council, but now he was quite an old member. After giving his views as to the qualities necessary for the position he said it was with very great pleasure that he proposed Mr J. Brown as chairman. . T The motion was seconded by <jt J. R. Hill. In supporting the motion, Mr A. Morto nexpresscd the pleasure he felt at seeing so many of the old members again seated at the table. Referring to the new members he expressed the opinion that the excellent work they had done on Road Boards qnalified them exceptionally for the work of the Council. He was confidentt hat Mr Brown would conduct lite affairs of the Council in the same capable way in which he had acted in the past. Cr. Andrews also eulogised Mr Brown's qualifications for the office of chairman. Cr. Bridgeman returned thanks for the welcome given to the new candidates and promised his hearty co-operation in the County's work. Cr. Laurence also returned thanks. _ The motion was then carried unanimously. On talcing the chair, Cr Brown impressed on the new Councillors that they should take a broad view of the work of the Council, and not a parochial view, as their duty was to study the best interests of the County as a whole and not concentrate their efforts on the ridings they represented. He hoped_ that councillors would support the chair, especially when it was shown that schemes advocated could be carried out, and he asked them to adhere as nearly as possible to the rules of debates. He welcomed the new members, and expressed the hope that they would prove progressive. In conclusion he thanked the members for electing him to the chair. ADMINISTRATIVE. It was decided that the ordinary meetings of the Council be held on the first of each Tuesday instead of Monday in each month.

Any two councillors wore authorised to si fin cheques, and the chairman with Cr McAllum were authorised to sign contracts.

The following were appointed as a Works Committee: —Moa riding, Crs. Bridgeman and Laurence; Mangorei, Cr. Morton; Waitara, 'Crs TTill and -T. Andrews; Omata and Okato. Crs C. Andrews, McAllum, and Binnie. the chairman being an ex officio member for all the ridings. OVERSEER OR ENGINEER. The chairman brought up the question of the appointment of an inspector, remarking that he considered the County was not only losing a good deal of revenue in respect of licenses through being without an inspector. 'Moreover, breaches of bye-laws regarding unlighted vehicles, motor inspection, and other matters required action to be taken. The district under the control of the County was growing very large, and there "were a lot of men employed, so that it was necessary to have competent supervision. Cr. McAllum moved the appointment of an engineer; failing that then to get the best overseer possible. Cr. .1. Andrews moved that applications be called for the position of inspector at a salary of £250 a year. Cr. Ilill preferred an engineer being appointed instead of an inspector. Cr. Morton seconded the motion pro forma, but he said he was not satisfied with tho conditions under which the late inspector was appointed, He contended tllflfc it a not vest the officer with control over the foremen. Tho Council did not require the fervices of an engineer, as an outside engineer could be obtained wren required.

After considerable discussion tlie motion was carried, an amendment to make the salary £2OO a year being lost. The Council then went through the conditions of appointment that were drawn up when the late overseer was appointed. Considerable discussion took place on the question of whether the inspector should be pi veil full control over the employees of the Council, or whether the foremen should be excluded from his control, it being urged by some of the Councillors that a limited control only shpuld be given for the first six months. Eventually it was decided by a majority of 5 to 4 that the inspector be given full control over the employees, Crs. J. Andrews, D. {VfcAUum, C. Andrews, and the chairman voting with the minority. ROAD LOAK.

The clerk was instructed to complete the necessary steps for raisins a loan of £OOO from tlie State Advances "Department for tlie IToani road, Pnniho. ADDITIONAL FOREMAN. Instructions were {riven to call for applications for the position of assistant foreman in tlie Okato Riding, this step lining necessary owing to tlie extended area of that Riding, consequent on tlie merger of the Werekino and Tatarainiaka Road Districts.

TELEGRAPH POLES. Or. Laurence brought up tlie question of the removal of the telegraph poles which the Department were erecting on the Mountain road between the Piako and Maketawa Rivers. He urged that these poles, which were within 3 feet of the metal, should be placed further back. It was decided to request the Department to remove the poles closer to the railway fence. Cr. McAllum again mentioned the | neglect of the Telegraph Department to I remove the pole at the junction of the Barrett and Omata roads. He made a very strong and indignant protest against the action of the Department in ] not having removed this pole as requested by the Council, and pointed out that it was a source of great danger to the public. It was decided to notify the Department that the Council disclaim all responsibility in ease of an accident occurring through the non-removal of the pole. GENERAL. On the motion of Cr. Laurence, seconded by Cr. Bridgeman, the clerk was instructed to attend at Inglewood on December 19 and January 20, for the purpose of receiving rates. _