TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1915, Page 8

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

ANNUAL MEETING. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. The annual statutory meeting of the Taranaki County Council was held at noon yesterday. Present: Crs. J. Brown, D. McAllum, A. Morton, J. S. Connett, Laurence, Binnie, C. Andrews, and J. Andrews.

The county clerk (Mr. R. H. Ellis) took the chair and asked for nominations for the position of chairman. Cr. McAllum, in proposing Cr. Joseph Brown for the position, said that he had had several years' experience of Cr. Brown's chairmanship, and was of the opinion that they could not have a better man. He had all the work and requirements of the County at his fingers' ends, and his service had proved highly satisfactory. Cr. Morton seconded the proposal. Cr. Brown had carried out Ms duties so faithfully and well that he was entitled to the continued confidence of the council. Cr. Laurence considered that the honorarium for the position was rather large. He had not opposed that one granted for the last year as the chairman had had a lot of running around. But the council had had to turn down a lot of works on account of the shortage of money, and he believed that in starting retrenchment by beginning at the head. He thought, and moved, that £7O be the remuneration for next vear.

Cr. McAllum said that when a captain had got full knowledge of his ship and full control of his crew, it wa9 unwise to change commanders. Cr. Brown had shown a most unparochial spirit in all matters appertaining to the county's welfare, and so far as the remuneration was concerned, that could be considered next October.

The motion was then put and carried unanimously.

In returning thanks for the honor paid him, the chairman said that this was now his tenth year in the position. Referring to Cr. Laurence's remarks, he wished to point out that there was no stated salary. The council had had a strenuous year, and were likely to have another one, but they were now in a slightly better financial position than at the same period in 1015. It was comforting to kntiw that they had not gone back, and the roads were in good order. He did riot think they had yet got to the solution of the roads upkeep difficulty; lie was afraid the roads would not be much improved under the tarring system they were about to experiment with, but he hoped he would be proved mistaken. He would do his best for the county, and, as . a chairman should, would keep away from parochial affairs. It was resolved that any two Councillors- should sign cheques on behalf of the council. Crs. Morton and Binnie moved that the monthly meetings be held on the first Monday of the month, to take effect from January next. An amendment by Cr. McAllum that the meetings be held on the first Tuesday in each month did not find a seconder, and the motion was carried.

Cr. Laurence mentioned the question of expenses for Council's delegates to conferences outside the district. He said that 00 per cent, of the ratepayers travelled sccoml-elass on the trains, and he did not consider that councillors should travel first-class at their expense. He moved that delegates should receive 15s a day and second-class fare. Seconded by Cr. Binnie. Cr. Morton moved an amendment to insert first-class instead of second-elass. It was lowering the dignity of the council to ask members to travel secondclass. The chairman seconded the amendment.

Thorp was a considerable discussion in which all members present took part. The chairman, inter alia, remarked that he had not heard of any Councillor offering to forego his usual travelling expenses. (Crs. Laurence and Binnie: "We are"). The ratepayers did not expect delegates to go to Wellington and lose money, and he had not heard of any of them squealing. No delegate ever came back with a penny to the good. Cr. Laurence said he had only brought the question forward for discussion. The amendment was lost, and a further amendment was then moved by Crs. MeAllum and J. Andrews, that the expenses of delegates to outside districts on county business be fixed at each council meeting as such business may arise. This was carried, and the meeting concluded.