COUNTY COUNCILS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 May 1922, Page 7

COUNTY COUNCILS.

THE ELECTION OF CHAIRMEN. MEETINGS IN TARANAKI. The statutory meetings of county councils for the election of chairmen were held yesterday in Taranaki. THE TARANAKI COUNCIL. MR. CONNET RE-ELECTED. At the meeting of the Taranaki County Council there were present: Messrs. J. S. Connett, A. Morton, S. Vickdrs, O. Penwarden, J. Wooldridge, and J. Andrews. Beyond receiving the annual report of the retiring chairman and the election of chairman for the ensuing year, no formal business was transacted. Or. Morton expressed pleasure in proposing the re-election of Mr. Connett as chairman, and said he was quite satisfied 'they could have no chairman who would devote more time, energy and zeal to the work of the council. He regretted that the efforts of the council dining the past year had not been so successful as they could have hoped for, butt said this was due, not to any fault of the chairman and the council, but the unfavorable weather conditions which had prevailed. Referring to the tarring work done in the Mangorei Riding. Mr. Morton said he was exceedingly well pleased with the way in which' It had been carried out. It was a really first-class job, and when the main roads 'throughout the county had been treated in a similar way, then the county would have every reason to feel proud of what had been accomplished.

Mentioning, Mr. Morton said it was very unfortunate that some ratepayers, at any rate, were finding it difficult to pay their rates. He toped that during the coming year the position would be so much improved that ratepayers would be able to wipe off all arrears and that the council itself would be able to report a much better state of affairs. In formally moving that Mr. Connett be reelected chairman, Mr. Morton added tluit there were special reasons why ne should again accept the position. A very important conference called by the Minister of Public Works to discuss matters in connection wiffc- the main highways was to be held, for instance, and Mr. Connett’s long experieDce and the thought he had given to this question would be invaluable to the conference. The motion was seconded by Or. J. Andrews i and was spoken to by Ora. WocAdridge, Vidters and Penwarden. The motion was carried unanimously, and in responding, Mr. Connett said it was gratifying to him to hear the compiimeatary remarks of his colleagues with regard to the work te had been able to do on behalf of the council. Continuing, Mr. Connett eulogised the work of the council's employees, and said all were out to do the best they possibly could for the county. They had been particularly fortunate in their appointment of Mr Meredith as overseer. The work of the council had been well organised by ffie overseer, and under his guidance ted proceeded in a most satisfactory maimer, especially when they remembered the adverse climatic conditions which had been experienced last year. To give some idea of the work that had been accomplished, Mr. Connett mentioned that the men in charge of the trucks had removed 13,500 yards of metal, 2500 yards of shingle, 300 tons of bitumen, beeides pipes and general haulage. The two teams* had hauled 5486 yards of boulders, 669 yards of metal, 128 yards of shingle, and 236 yards of sand. It would be seen, therefore, that notwithstanding the bad season, splendid work had been done and that a very fine spirit prevailed among the men, who were out -to do their best, for tl:e council. Referring to the proposed main roads scheme, Mr. Connett said he felt satisfied that as the result of the fortlicoming conference, proposals satisfactory to all parties concerned would l>e arrived at. He again expressed his appreciation of the honor conferred upon him, and said he was desirous of seeing the work in tre council’s unum road improvement scheme pushed along to a successful conclusion. With reasonable good weather during the ensuing year he thought they would be able to make really good headway, as everything was now thoroughly well organised. _ Members of the council, ti e clerical staff and Press representatives were later the guests of Mr. Connett at luncheon at the Grand Central.

EGMONT COUNCIL. CR. O’BRIEN APPOINTED. The election of chairman of the Egmont County Council was the cause of some little controversy at the annual meeting of the Egmont County Council. When the clerk called for nominations, Or. O’Brien was proposed by Cr. Trotter, and this was seconded by Cr. Ferguson. Cr. Green was proposed by Cr. Tosland and seconded by Cr. Chapman. In speaking to the amendment, Cr. Chapman said that ti e late chairman (Cr. Campbell) had undoubtedly done his best in the interests of 'the county, but there was Hie drawback that he lived outside the county, and while he might gain information useful to the council by coming in contact with chairmen of other local bodies, this was more than outweighed by the disadvantages of living outside. They must select the best man for the position, and he considered that Cr. Green would fill the bill, having time available to attend to county matters. Cr O'Brien said that some six months ago he had felt that if the chairman did not live in the district they must look elsewhere for a chairman, and he had Informed Cr. Green of this. He understood that Cr. Green had since gone to Cr. Campbell and urged him to stand for the chair again, assuring tim that he (Cr. Green), would not stand. That was the reason, he said, why he had not seconded Cr. Green’s nomination. Cr. Campbell said that he recognised the chainmail should be as near as possible to the headquarters of the county. Cr. Green, he said, tad told him that in the event of his standing for the chair again, he (Cr. Green) would not even attend the meeting, and now, when the question came up, Cr. Green stood for the chairmanship. If he had decided -to live at Plhama again, he would t-ave stood for re-election. Personally he was not anxious for the position, as he wished to have a little peace. He thanked members for the hearty support always accorded him, and as long as he sat at the council table he could assure the new chairman of his support. ~ , Cr. Green expressed his strong disapproval of tte statement that had. been made. He had always trusted the late chairman, and considered that the present was a moss unkind stand to take up. Personally, he would take his oath that he had never asked Cr. Campbell to stand again, and he had never told any man that he would support anyon . Cr O’Brien tad been led astray. Cr. Campbell had informed the speaker that they would see more of him next year as several councillors had asked him to allow to be again nominated for fhe chaar, and he would probably be IMMT w*. The speaker had replied that If dbat were so be would probably not be at the Jneet--IUB. Ho asked Cr. Campbell to verity this. Cr. Campbell admitted that this was so. Cr Tosland endorsed Cr. Green J s remarks. He also said that as Cr. Campbell resided out of the distrlot he Jett they must look elsewhere for the chairman, wto he • h< *“B h ‘ should com from the other end. He had accordingly asked Cr. Green to stand and he did not think he would make a bad <®airelection then resulted In the return of Cr. O'Brien, the voting toeing Crs. Campbell, Watson, O’Brien, Ferguson and Trotter for and Cr*. Chapman, Brophy, and Tosland against. . ~ - The new chairmaii then took his seat ana thanked cr 'incillors for their confidence. He sail that t iough he was no expert, he would try honestly to do his best to the last meh, so that, tiie whole county should have fair ■iiwtice wxkjUzt. jha too AriflinOa.. tor-

him to attend to, and the RaJiotu Riding would be no more neglected than Opua. He may have been hasty in the past, but he would promise thait in future ono and all would have every consideratim. No one was perfect, but he hoped to drop any haailness. He would work entirely in the interests of the council, as though unable to do any work on ffie farm, he was able to ride and drive around. After the termination of the meeting the three members representing the Raho(u Riding, viz., Mejurrs. W. C; Green, A. F. Chapman and P. Brophy, handed in their resignations to the clerk, and an election will be held to fill the vacancies, nominations closing on Thursday, June 8. THE CLIFTON COUNCIL. At the meeting of -the Clifton County Council, the retiring chairman (Mr. R. H. Pigott) was re-elected for a further year. THE INGLEWOOD COUNCIL. OR. A. CORKHLL RE-ELECTED. At. the annual meeting of the Inglewood County Council there were present: Crs. A. Corkill (chairman), A. Cowley, H. Jones, A. E. Laurence, J. W. Grieve, G. Capper, J. Hunter and R. Stuart. The recently elected member, Cr. Grieve, was welcomed by the chairman. Cr. Grieve briefly responding. Leave of absence was granted: to Cr. R. Hare. The chairman then presented Ms annual report (referred to elsewhere). ' Cr. Capper, referring to the formation of the Inglewood County, said the . Taranaki County had always done a fair thing by the then Moa Riding, and it had been a pleasure to work with the county. The only otter matter occurring during the year which ne took exception to was the recent trouble concerning the engineer. He objected then, and stHl objected, to the motion concerning the engineer. The chairman said that during the year there had been some little trouble and far too touch opposition for the harmonious working of the council, and the council had not pulled together as It should have done. In nouainaiing Cr. G. Capper for the position of Cr. Hunter said there had been numerous complaints regarding the administration of the council’s funds and the trouble regarding the engineer. Cr. Capper declined nomination under the present constttuiion of -the council. Cr. Jones nominated Cr. Corfcill for reelection, and Cr. Cowley seconded. There toeing no further nominations Cr. CoridU was declared elected. In returning thanks the chairman said were it not for certain people in the county Bttrrtng up -trouble he would not have accepted re-election. But he tad never turned his back 'on anything he had undertaken. He took exception to Cr. remark that he (Cr. Capper) would not accept nomination under the present constitution of. the council. He asked Cr. Capper to point out any esse in which the council bad failed. He eodd name many instances in which the Taranaki County had failed, but nothing had been, said about that. Cr. Capper: "Why bring up the Taranaki County?” He asked why should the chairman criticise him more than any other member? Ho liked tte chairman and all his family, but when he got in the chair he was too much of an autocrat. If God sent an angel down from Heaven the ratepayers would not be satisfied with him as ft chair-