FEATHERSTON COUNTY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 May 1938, Page 8

FEATHERSTON COUNTY

MR A. B. MARTIN ELECTED CHAIRMAN. OBSERVATIONS BY MR DONALD. (“Times-Age” Special.) Councillor A. B. Martin was elected chairman of the Featherston County Council at the annual meeting which was held today. Referring to the abilition of riding accounts in 1933, the retiring chairman, Mr Q. Donald said: “I wish to state emphatically that after five years of operation I do not think there is a councillor who would like to go back to the former state. I consider that the change has been a distinct advantage to the county as a whole.” Passing on to deal with aspects of county work since he was elected in 1908, Mr Donald referred to the councillors he had been associated with and paid a tribute in particular to the Hon A. D. McLeod and the late Messrs John Martin and A. Matthews. On the retirement of Mr McLeod in 1919, Mr Dona’d said, he was elected chairman, a position which he had held continuously ever since. In November, 1910, the contract for the Waitenga Bridge was let, that being the first concrete bridge in the Wairarapa.

Mr Donald said that the success the council had enjoyed with its sealed roads and concrete bridges had been brought about by the good management and the care of the engineer and the staff. He also considered that the council was. indebted to the Public Works Department and the Main Highways Board for their generous assistance in the past. He wished to thank all the councillors past and present for their loyal and unselfish support. They had been a happy family and he trusted that that spirit would continue to prevail.