STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1922, Page 6

STRATFORD.

STRATFORD AGENCY Advertisements and items of news for publication in the Taranaki Daily News should be left at tho office of our local representatatlve, Mr. W. H. Humphrey, Broadway, Stratford. Orders for papers may also be left with him. TOE COUNTY CHAIRMAN. CR. WALTER RE-ELECTED. June 17. There having been no quorum at the annual meeting of the Stratford County Council, held last month for the purpose of electing a chairman for the ensuing year, the election was held on Saturday, Cr. E. Walter being returned unopposed. The chairman thanked the councillors for their help and support during the year. He did not think any council could work more harmoniously than they had done—councillors, staff and workmen. He believed that very good work had been done during the year, although it had been a very difficult year. They had finished up at March with about £-6060 rates outstanding, so it could be understood why the council had gone slow. When a little rate money did come to hand they had many misfortunes with their machinery. Traffic during the summer had been very heavy, partly accounted for by the increase inl production. He thought the position looked fair for the expending of a considerable amount of loan money in the near future. He again thanked the councillors, staff, workmen and the Press for their support. Cr. Anderson nominated Cr. E, Wal- . ters for re-election as chairman, speak- ! ing appreciatively of his services to the council. Cr. W. H. Were seconded and other councillors gave ready support, stating that the council was under a great debt of gratitude to their chairman. Cr. Pitt said that undoubtedly the high cost of road work had caused some little dissatisfaction, but he was pleased to see that contract prices were now coming down. There being no further nominations, Cr. Walter was declared elected. Returning thanks, the chairman said he had been asked if it was not possible to bring down the rates, but he was afraid there was no hope for at least two or three years. He believed that by that time, in view of the amount of permanent work being done, the rates i could be brought down considerably, but for at least two or three years he saw no hope.

ELECTRIC POWER BOARD. CONSTITUTION GAZETTED. BOARD ELECTION TO FOLLOW. The secretary to the Taranaki Electric '• Power District Committee notified the Stratford City Council on Saturday that the Taranaki Electric Power District ; had been duly constituted and the election of a board would take place on about July 4. The expenses in connection with the constitution amounted to £2lO, and the Stratford Council’s contribution was £7O. Crs. Were and Anderson, members of the Power Committee, reported on the activities of the committee up to date. Cr. Were said the members of the committee had always given their services gratuitously, and it was only reasonable that the local bodies should give their quota towards defraying expenses. The £7O would not be a gift, ; but would be chargeable to the new i Power Board. Cr. Anderson detailed the expenses, j amounting to £2lO. He thought the Eltham people should be well pleased with the work that had been done for this sum. Only the local bodies could • claim a refund for these expenses, and he did not think it would be necessary j to pav tiie money c ver to the Power I Committee, and it would only be necessary to debit the new Power Board. Inglewood was not included in the claim for expenses, as there had been some opposition. It was decided to grant the claim, the chairman stating that it was a very reasonable request. THE BOUNDARIES COMMISSION. AN INCIDENT REVIVED. OR. WALTER EXPLAINS. An echo of a little incident that occurred just prior to the late sitting of the Boundaries Commission at Stratford was heard at Saturday’s meeting of the Stratford County Council, when the chairman (Cr. E. Walter) rose to give an ‘•emphatic denial” to a report appearing in the Eltham paper regarding statements made by himself and Cr. J. O Neill at a meeting of the council. The report caused considerable discussion at the sitting of the Commission, some doubt having been cast on Mr. J. B Richards’ right to sit on the Commission after the alleged happenings. Cr. Walter said that at the meeting of the council prior to the sitting of the Commission the Finnerty Road boundaries had been mentioned, and the council then adjourned. When leaving the table, Or. O’Neill had remarked: “I suppose Mr. Richards has been through a rehearsal or two?” and he (the chairman) had replied: “I had a long talk with him this morning.” The chairman said the remarks were passed after 'the council had adjourned and should not have been reported. He did not denv that the words were used, but the whole thing was said in a joke. ' IU had met Mr. Richards that morning and had spoken to him for not more than half a minute, only casually mentoning the Finnerty Rond boundary. He had never before had any reason to complain of the action of a Reporter and he was sorry to do it now , but the report looked bad in cold print. H made the explanation in fairness to Mr. Richards, and he believed the councillor.-, would 'bear him out. Cr O'Neill said he regretted the al- ' tide in the paper on account of the pause his conscience was clear.