The Wairoa Bell AND Hobson County Gazette FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 222, 3 November 1893, Page 8

The Wairoa Bell AND Hobson County Gazette FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3 rd.

The three years term of office enjoyed by the present County Councillors is now almost closed, and on Wednesday next ratepayers will be called upon to elect a new Council. By reference to the advertisement it will be seen that candidates for office are numerous, and taken altogether there seems to be a lively interest in Council matters just now. 'Meetings of ratepayers have been held at Kopuru and at Aratapu, and a similar meeting is to be held at Mangawhare this evening As to the cause of this revived interest opinions differ, but possibly it is due to three things the promise of some Government money to expend, the discontent of those who have not made themselves acquainted with Council affairs, and the scheming of an old politician who has been endeavouring to have a finger in the business of each riding so that he may secure the election of a Council more suited to his tricks. Looking at the nominations in most of the ridings it is evident that the schemer has failed for in whatever way elections go the honesty and integrity of the Council will be fully maintained, though in one or two instances the cloven hoof is apparent. Mr Slade has been elected unopposed for the Wairea Biding and whatever his views on details may be we know him to be true as steel. The candidates for election are as well known to the ratepayers of the various ridings as they are to us so that it is quite unnecessary for us to review them, but so much unfair criticism has been circulated in reference to the Council now going out of office that we feel called upon to say something in its defence. As the County Chairman truly said if ratipayers would make themselves better aquainted with the work of the Council there would be less discontent. We have attended almost every meeting of the Council for many years past and we know that the Council now going out of office has been a marked 'improvement on its predecessors. When we call to mind the way in which old Councils carried on, and remember into what a mess County affairs bad got. when the reform party now in office began to make themselves felt, and then look around and find so many ready to speak only evil of the present Council, we are reminded of Sbakespear’s lines on the death of Cfesar when be says 14 Ingratitude more strong than traitors’ arms quite vanquished him.” The present County Chairman, Mr A. Ek Harding, was amongst the first who sought to overturn the old state of things, during which the Council was managed in the interests of storekeepers and townships while settlement had little qj jjq voice in the matter. The efforts put forth by him and others who have now passed out of the Council met with the strongest opposition, and many of our readers will remember the bitter abuse and slander hurled at him and his friends in the press. In spite, however, of the vilest attacks they remained true to the ratepayers Dv whose help they gradually became a majority in the Council. We pride ourselves on having been of considerable service in this work of reform, and we desire to put forth a few facts in order to give ratepayers some idea of their indebtedness to some of the present Councillors. When the old party lost power there was q, large bank overdraft and the Council

was frequently spoken of in connection with bankruptcy, for in addition to the overdraft the new Councillors had to meet claims for compensation amounting to =6630. In addition to this the working expenses were very heavy, amounting to £515 per annum, made up as follows— Engineer £240, Clerk £l2O and in Commission on rate collecting and fees from slaughter houses the Clerk received further sums amounting to £55 per annum. The new party felt that decided steps were necessary and fought strongly in the face of stern opposition till they had reduced working expenses to £265 per year—the office staff now being Clerk and Engineer £235, Cadet £3O, The present Council is now in a very good position for they have paid off £525 of the £630 compensation claims incurred by their predecessors, have authorised the payment of the remaining £lO5 as soon as deeds are completed, have kept roads in fair order and done much useful work, have reduced expenses by £lso per annum and will leave office with an overdraft of less than £2OO. This has been done in the face of an unexpected loss of £394 of rates which the Kauri Company suddenly refused to pay and which legal advise said could not be recovered, and the loss of £4OO of rates brought about by the opposition striking a penny in place of a six-farthing rate for one year. Undoubtedly the Council now leaving office deserves the best thanks of the ratepayers In some there seems to be a feeling that the present Engiueer is overpaid, but those who know more of the work are fully satisfied with that officer. Mr Hammond is a careful conscientious officer who has been of great assistance to economy of working, A workman is worthy of his hire an i no one should grudge the Engineer his salary. He engoged with the Council to do the work of Clerk and Engineer for £230 per annum, paying his own travelling expenses. When he took office the County had a Bate Collector who received about £37 per year, and a Slaughter house inspector who received £2O from fees. The Coucil asked Mr Hammond to taka over the Bate collecting and Slaughter-house inspection without extra salary, but they gave him a cadet to assist in the office work at a salary of £25, By this means' the Council gained some £3O a year* Since that time extra work has been put upon the office by the collec tion of wharfage dues, vehicle and pedlar licenses which together amount to about £IOO per annum. This extra work, but more especially the rate collecting, has entailed extra travelling expenses upon Mr Hammond and at his request the Council voted him £lO in two years to recoup these. A great deal has been said of this £lO which was justly due to a deserving officer, hut nothing whatever of the skilful financing of the Council by which the an nual working expenses have been reduced by at least £l5O, while the revenue has, not by natural growth of settlement, but by attention to details, increased by more than £IOO per anuum,