NEW COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 March 1920, Page 8

NEW COUNTY.

CHANGE IN MOA DISTRICT. FAREWELL TO RETIRING MEMBERS At yesterday's meeting of tlie Taranaki County Council reference was made by the chairman (Mr. ,1. S. Connett) to tlie fact -that the Moa Riding would at the end of the month cease to be a portion of the county and become part of the luglewood County. This, Mr. Connett said, meant that the present riding members would go out of office. Personally he regretted this, as "when he wag elected chairman of the County it had been his hope to king the whole of the roads in the Taraiiakj County under one administration. He considered this would have been much more economical, and would have enabled tlie controlling body to go in for more up-to-date measures of to.t l construction and maintenance- He was glad that Waitara West had merged into the County, but regretted the sevcrence of the Moa Riding, though he thought it was better they should become part of another, county, rather than a road district. Speaking of the cost of road maintenance, Mr. Connett said lie could see there would have to be an increase of rates, and emphasised the point that unices the Council had more funds the necessary work should be done. In referring to the work of the members for the Moa Riding tlie chairman said the ratepayers had ?ood reason to be proud of the men who represented them. Out of eight chairmen that the County had had four of them had lieen Moa reprepentatives. He himself greatly appreciated the help given by the present ridnsr members. They had lieen tegular in their attendance at the meetings, and had alwayst considered the interests of the ratepayers as a whole.. The relations between them and the other members of the Council had lieen very cordial at all time?, and although they had not always lieen of the sumo mind, there had never been anv illfeeling. He hoped that they would all become members of the new County Council, as their experience would be invaluable in view of the important works to be undertaken in that district. Tn conclusion, Mr. Connett referred to the proposed wheel tax, and said that although the Council had borne all the odium, it would be found in the end that their efforts had been of benefit In the whole of the local bodies allvOr. A. Morton and the clerk of the Council (Mr. R. 0. Ellis) also spoke in appreciative terms of the work of the Moa members and the happy relations existing between them and the other councillors. Suitable replies were made by the retir'.nsr councillors (Messrs A. E. Lawrence. .1. P.. Simpson, and G. Capper), and Hie members of the Council were then entertained to luncheon hv the chairman. It. was decided to inform the employees of the County in the Moa Riding, which is excluded from the Cornitv. that their duties with the Council would he terminated on March 3Lst. Tt was also decided to forward letters of appreciation of their services to Foremen Taylor and Heal, they being very old employees of the Council. ' ,