INGLEWOOD COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1919, Page 5

INGLEWOOD COUNTY.

REMARKS BY ROAD BOARD MEMBERS.

Before commencing the ordinary business of the Moa Road Board on Saturday, the chairman (Mr. A. Corkill) referred to the good news that had been received during the past few days that the Inglewood County Bill had been passed. Up to the present they had received no official notification of the matter, but a copy of the Bill had*een forwarded by the Hon. 0. Samuel, with a note stating that it Tiad passed through the Upper House. They had had a lon-< fight, and it was satisfactory to know that it had ended as it had. It had however, been a just cause, and he had never any doubt as to what the ultimate issue would be. H e pointed out that the formation of the county was a ma iter that not only affected ting district, but the whole of New Zealand, as better roads would enable farmers to market their produce cheaper, and the difference saved in time and money must result in increased production and larger export. It was stated by some of the opponents to the county that its establishment would bo harmful to New Plymouth and the harbor, but he thought it would be helpful, as the district would lend itself to oloser supervision and more economical management, while the money' thus saved would be expended on manures, etc.. and the increased production would mean that more would go through the port. All the members of the board had given a good deal of-time and persona! expense in connection with the formation of the county, and he could foresee a good deal of work for some one in putting the new county in gear. They now.had the ball at their feet, and the future success of the county, depended in the way it was managed during the first few vears. If they started right, they would end right. He trusted the settlers would pull together ami try and bring the district into line with the more progressive parts of South Taranaki. There was no question that with regard to roads the district was behind. He thanked the members of the board.-for tho loyal way in which they stuck to the board in the nght and for the assistance given him in the matters entrusted to him. He also paid a tribute to the splendid assistance rendered by the clerk in the extra work entailed. The overseer had also rendered valuable assistance. He also thanked the press for the fair and unbiassed reports they had alwavs given. He did not remember a single instance in which cither paper had favored any party or had treated them unfairly. When they realised that all the opposition came from the same district in which two of the daily papers were published, it spoke well "for the standard set. He also paid a tribute to the part played by the late T.,E. Hamerton who had always solidly supported the proposal.

Mr. D. Todd said that he was not always confident that the county would become an established fact, though he had forked hard in the matter. It was only right that counties in dairying districts should comprise small areas,

Mr. Hunter said it rested with members to make a success of the new county. They must start in advance of the times and go in for tar-sealed or concrete roads, but before that they would have to get a fair amount of machinery. They must go in for labor-saving machinery. There was no prospect of labor coming down, rather would the labor question hecome more difficult. Mr. J. H. Lyon agreed that they must go in for labor-saving machinery and adopt up-to-date methods of bridge and road construction, and avoiding the'obsolete methods and financial muddle of the county from which they had seceded. Now that they had- an assured county and its future before them, he hoped all friction with neighboring local bodies would cease, and speaking for the members of the hoard, he could say that the hatchet would be buried b'v the Inglewood County. Some properties in a limited rating area had to pay lieavv special rates for metalled roads, and he thought that as these roads were used by settlers in the back, who did not contribute to the special rate, n portion of this should be met out of the general rate.

The chairman then moved tint the hoard place on record fts appreciation of the services Tendered bv the Nona. ,T, B. TTine. 0. Samuel. D. H. Guthrie and 0. W. Russell,' and Messrs C. A. Wilkinson, S. 0. Smith and W. T. .Tonninw, M.'sP. This was seconded by Mr D. Todd and carried unanimously", as, was also a further resolution that the secretary of the Local 'Bills Committee Re asked to convey to the committee the hoard's appreciation of the uniform courtesy extended to its memhers when giving evidence heforc the committee. Later in the meeting in recognition of the clerk's gratuitous services in connection with the formation of the county, it was resolved to vote Mr. Buckley a honus of £2O.