HOBSON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 147, 22 June 1909, Page 7

HOBSON COUNTY COUNCIL.

jHOTOGKAPHY AXD FIVAXCE. 35 IXTEEESTI-V; MEETING. RESIGNATIONS OF STAFF. (From Our Own Correspondent.) j DAROAYILLE, Saturday. Tiie Hobson County Coun.il's month- | , T meetm- proved to be probably the I L s t interesting witiiin the history of] L' Council, and the various matters I discussion provide interesting £W first 01 all. Councillor \\ ,bb j -with a de=>r* to .mmortai.se t..e atmhers 01 the Council ior having extricated the County irom a hole, into «lich mal-administration in the past ■„ad plunged them, by signing a personal guarantee ior the repayment oi an additional loan »t £2.ooo—proposed j that the photograph- oi the Councillors ■a J Slide) l>e empowered to make | arrangements i<> liavp tin enlargement "i the same hung in the l.'ouncil Cham-1 L r - as a memorial of the deed the Council had done. The motion found j supporter in Mr. Trcmnson, who nb--VcLd nererrhelpes to the last portion of the proposition. This caused Councillor Edwin Harding to speak, and he, h, a most sarcastic manner held the j up to ridicule. He urgedj that it would be a true memorial 11 j the Councillors could (only secure a | correct statement of their riding halves, and atta.-h same to their respective buttonholes. In addition, he j the tnie position of the fount v'sj| financial position should also he me-il Utoiralised. and the picture would not "be | rcßPlPte without a photo, of the past: Council, nnd the reason shown on the : aieture war the present Council was I obliged to s ; gn the bond. When put! to the meeting, the motion only had j the support of V ouneillors Webb and Tmunsen.

Jrounsen. . ! This tended to create a little feeling, j •ybich was accentuated further on when I Councillor Webb moved to increase, the travelling expenses all round, his pro- j position providing for an increase of | the Chairman's travelling expenses from £25 to £50. Some of the Councillors spoke in favour of the Chairman's iicrea-je being given, but. the Chairman said that in consequence of the tad financial position of the County he would be glad if the increase was not pressed. Councillor Harding brought forward an amendment, fixini the allowances on a basis cnnsidera-bly under Councillor Webb's proposition, and in doing so. urged the Council. in view of the finances, to be very careful in not doing anything that would cause outsiders to gain the impression that they were there for personal profit. This statement caused Councillor Webb to become very excited, and he stated that he. looked upon Councillor Harding's remark as a direct personal insult, to which Councillor Harding interjected the reply, "Rubbish!" Eventually a vote was taken, and Councillor Harding's amendment limiting the expenses was carried on the casting vote of the Chairman.

The Chairman discloied a very unsatkfactory state of affairs in connection ■Kith the Okahu. loan of £0,500. and his report showed unexpended allocations amounting to £6<33, with only ±'78 in the bank to meet the demand. In reply to Councillor Harding, as to who was to blame, the Chairman said thai tim'Engineer blamed the Clerk, and the latter considered that "he Engineer's criticism was not justified. There was no doubt, b." .-aid. that the staff was to blame. Councillor Harding protested against the money being taken out of rates, and on hw motion, it was decided that the settlers oi the garu and Okahu Biding be approached iy the Chairman to ascertain whether it was feasible to obtain an increase in the amount of loan from Government, sad if so, to take the necessary steps to do so.

Later on Hici resignation of "Mr. 3d*. Iff. Lambert Klerk and Treasurer) and Hr. J, 0. PRttit (Assistanb-Clerk I were received ami accepted, and, in connection ltiti lie formpr. jt "was derided to piace on the minutes the Council's high tppreciat'mn of the integrity shown hy Mr. Lambert fluring his. long: eonneetion trith The Council. It was decided to invite applications for the position of Clerk and Treasurer, and. on the (motion of rmtnrilior Harding, it _ was agreed that the engagement >he made KDJect to a condition that the oflicia] lisn an agrrement not to undertake lay. other jsrork -without the, consent oi Council. The position of the. Engineer ivas nnf"- discu-sed. and Councillor Harding pointed out that a. similar resolution, in respect. 10 ih? Engineer, was passed iv I'lO.l, hut the condition sad not bron adhered to. Tie moved i 'That the Engineer, in accordance -with. tie resolution already on the hooks, te requested to sign au agreement that is mil not undertake any other than County -work for payment 'without the sanction of tha Council hv resolution." vThla evoked considerahle discussion. Coimefllor Trounsen held that co long £3 the Engineer gave his eight hours to fee Council that, -was all thai could he Kpected of him, and any -work he did tfter hours had nothing whatever to do. with the Council. Councillor \\Vbb seconded the motion. A challenge from Councillor Trounseu drew from the mover an assertion that, the Engineer T?as competing -with others in architectural tyork, and, furthermore, if the Engineer had paid more attention to County work, the Okahu loan over expenditure, and a severe loss the County had teen put to in an over-purchase oi metal, could possibly have "been Bsved. The Engineer denii'd that he iad private practice, aud maintained that he had v.orked till four o'clock in tie morning for the Council. Councillor Webb, who had seconded the motion, then took sides with the Engineer, Sao. considered charges had been made *gainst him. Councillor Webb said he Would vote against the motion, which, :*E "being put to the meeting, -was only £ lpported by the mover and Councillor Hawkins. A good deal of feeling was winced during the. debate.. Councillor Barding has now given notice that he *ul move at the next meeting that W permanent, employee* of the County Council he required to sign an undertaking not to do any outside work for ?»yment without, the sanction of Coun- & hy resolution.