STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 July 1916, Page 3

STRATFORD.

THE PARTING OF THE WAYS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Yesterday. At the annual meeting of Hie Stratford Dairy Company on Monday next, the shareholders will have to elect five new directors to fill the vacancies through the retirement of Messrs. R. Dingle, M. T. Phillips, Hy. Watson, A. Lehmann and 0. Sangster, who, it is understood, do not intend to seek reelection.

The shareholders will, no doubt, regret to hear of Mr. Dingle's decision. He has been connected with the company for over 14 years, 12 of which he has been chairman of directors, and he has seen the company grow from infancy, till it has reached one of the largest concerns in New Zealand. When' he became chairman the turnover of the company was £17,00(1, while the present year's balance-sheet shows a turnover of £118,370, and the success of the company has in a, very great measure been due to his efforts. While perhaps some of the shareholders have not always seen eye to eye in all his actions in connection with the company, still, all admit that he has certainly done his utmost for it, and his intention to resign at a time when the concern warrants ihe best business men procurable at the head of affairs, will, it is certain, be regretted by all shareholders.

COUNTY COUNCIL MATTERS. The ratepayers of the Stra'.ford County Council must be heartily sick and tired of the action of two'of its councillors and the methods adopted in continually "pin-pricking-" the county engineer. At last Wednesday's Council meeting there was another of these outbursts, which the public are beginning to regard as a regular occurrence, but this time not only did one of the councillors attack the engineer, but reflected on the county clerk. .The bone of contention was that some workmen had to wait for the office to be opened while the county clerk had to come up town and transact county business. Now it is only fair to the clerk to mention that he lias no permanent assistance, and often he has personally tp attend to banking and other matters which take him away from the office, and during this time the oflice has to remain closed. If the clerk asked for an assistant, it is more than probable that the rery councillor who is making all ilia fr.es would be the first to object, on the score of expense. The Council has undoubtedly a competent officer in Mr. Pcnn, who looks after the Council's interests and gives more time than most men would do, and it is to be hoped that Cr. Baskin will think—i' he has time to thir.ij over anything—over the matter carefully before again attacking a competent official. The engineer has the sympathy of practically every ratepayer and councillor over the way in which he is being treated by Crs. Baskin and Smith, Both these councillors after the May meeting of tiie Council made a public confession that they would "bury the hatchet." The engineer, at the argent request of the Council, agreed to withdraw all proceedings he was taking against one of the councillors for statements made rellecting upon Uio professional ability. It certainly looks like vindictivencss on the councillors' part to pursue the course they are evidently intent on of "pinpricking" the engineer at every opportunity. Such methods are certainly not going to assist the engineer in giving, liis best; to the ratepayers, and it is to be hoped that aieh scenes that have occurred at the Council meetings will now end, and that the councillors concerned will do their best to assist, rather than retard, the engineer in the work be \s doing for the county. If the councillors only realised what the public thought of them and their methods they would don sackcloth and do penance for the remainder of their days! GENERAL. The 10th Reinforcements left by the mail train this morning. His Worship the Mayor and Rev. Father Maples addressed the men prior to leaving, after which the Mayoress presented each man with'a houswifo and hold-all. As the train steamed out of the station three liCarty cheers were given to the departing men. > The Wounded Soldiers' Fund for the Stratford district now stands at £0824 4s 7d, while £lO2 til 8d has been collected for the Sailors' Relief Fund.

It is understood that the two picture syndicates that intended starting operation, in Stratford have amalgamated, fnd that one palatial picture theatre will now be erected instead of two, as formerly announced.