TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1919, Page 2

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL.

STATUTORY ANNUAL MEETING. The statutory annual meeting of the Taranaki County Council wa3 held yesterday, there being present Crs. J. S. Connett (chairman), A. E. Lawrence, P. B. Simpson, J. Woollidge, C. Andrews, S. Vickers, and J. Andrews. PAST YEAR'S WORK. The chairman, prior to vacating his office, made a report on the work of the past year. Mr. Connett said tho year had been an eventful one, and it was gratifying to And the roads for the most part in good order. That was due very largely to tho fine spirit shown by the Council's permanent employees, many of whom left their roads for long periods in order to help in getting out stone, or help with work in other districts. He felt sure the Council and the ratepayers appreciated that spirit on 'the part of the men. The introduction of motor delivery waggons had also assisted in expediting the work on the roads. The chairman then referred to the decision of the Council to go in for tarscaling the main roads, and the carrying of the loan for the purpose by the ratepayers. Preparations for commencing the tarring work were being rapidly completed. Ail the bridges throughout the county had been thoroughly inspected and repairs carried out wherever necessary, except on such as required rebuilding. In regard to the loan proposals for bridge work, the chairman expressed regret that the Moa riding had turned the loan down. In the Waitara riding new bridges wero required over the Walongona at Lepperton, Maungaraka, Corbett Road, Te Aul Road, and Richmond Road, near the mill. The street bridge at Sentry Hill would also need replacing ln the near future. Proposals for these works would bo submitted shortly, and he hoped the ratepayers would support the Council In the matter. In the Okato riding the Oakuya concroto uridgo was in need of immediate attention. Two bridges had been erected on the Saunders-Carrlngton Road, one on the Mutton track, Hillsborough,'and one on Manutahi Road WestReference was made to the appointment of Mr. Climie as engineer in succession to Mr. Brunch, who left tho Council's employ in July last. The chairman also spoke of tho formation of the Inglewood County, and hoped that all would agree to let by-gones be by-gones, as no good purpose could be served by cherishing animosity against the new county. In a refcrenco to the adoption nf the wheel tax, tho chairman dealt with the opposition that had been raised to that proposition, and said Parliament had met the position temporarily by giving the same powers for licensing vehicles to all counties. The riding debits at the end of the las' financial year were £72 GO, and this had necessitated the increasing of the rates. Purchases of plant and machinery out of general account had made the financial position <n the county somewhat, acute, but it was expected tills would be relieved by the savings effected through the expenditure of tiie tarring loan. The great need at the present time was labor, and the immense amount, of work in hand and waiting all over the country should be sufficient, to impress upon the Government the necessity of getting more people of the right sort into the country at once, as it was little use having money to spend if no men were available to do the work. In conclusion. Mr. Connett expressed his thanks to the Council's officers and staff for tho loyal way tliev had supported ..him, and also to the Councillors for the cordial relations which all had endeavoured to malnI tain during the rear, and which had helped to make his duties much ossler than they otherwise would haro been. He also exprcssd thanks for the support of the press of the district. Ail the members present gave expression to their nppreriatiisi of tho services of Cr. Connett as chairman, and he was unanimously reelected to the position. Cr. Connett suitably acknowledged the confidence placed In him,