COUNTY WORK.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 12 April 1929, Page 6

COUNTY WORK.

PROGRESS IN WA LA I ATE WEST

CHAIRMAN’S REVIEW OF THE YEAR.

The meeting of the Waimate West County Council being the last before the election, the chairman made a review of the year’s work. He said that the county was in such a sound position that members and ratepayers were to bo congratulated. Roads were in a good condition, some ol the by-roads having been left to be finished later, it being impossible to do everything at once. The position was that the council had sealed 04 to 05 miles of roads, while bridges numbering twelve, and fifteen large culverts, had been completed. He said that a few by-roads might appear to be neglected, but they were far gone and would be left unit I later and then fit to carry traffic.

Tlie accounts showed that tlie council was in a better position than ever before since the formation of the county. Botli rulings were in credit, probably a unique position, it would be interesting, lie said, to record what had been paid out of ordinary rates —£<000 of antecedent liability at the rate of £I6OO a year; a rate of one-eighth of a penny for preliminary expenses of the Power Board for 1927-28, £IIUO, struck but not collected; hospital levy, £2830; interest and principal of back loans, £3565. The council hail paid these large amounts and still kept the roads in excellent condition, and also had added a percentage of new tar-sealed roads, -two or three miles each year. All this had been done out of ordinary rates, with still something to carryover.

A few roads needed attention — Omuturangi, Mangawhero, Kokere and Inalia —while provision had been made 1 for doing extra work, because the council had now been relieved of much extra expenditure. 'Tlie council was in a, better position than over and prospects were very bright for the future. Referring to members, he said lie had to express thanks to councillors for their loyal help. The chairman was no better than any' other member, but he had tlie responsibility, or accepted it. No one could have had more loyal help from councillors than he. All had considered first the welfare of the county and had shown a spirit of helpfulness to one another, which resulted in the best work. Ho thanked the engineer and cleric ana his assistant. All had worked harmoniously to promote the best interests of the county. The engineer had done his work practically on his own, but he had followed it carefully, while the clerk’s office management and clerical work had been most thorough. There had been no tag; on the balance-sheet. Miss Vine had” been courteous and obliging. The men employed had given good service. The chairman also thanked the 1 ress for excellent and accurate reports and fair and judicious statements of the business done at the council table. Ci-. F. Mourie added that all preparations made for improvement had turned out well. While perhaps he would like to have seen something more done, the work had been a credit to engineer and staff. Cr Leslie added a word of appreciation of the work done by all concerned in the'affairs of tbe county council. He considered, it had one of the best staffs in the country. Cr. McKay said the engineer had done well to keep the roads in such good repair, with such heavy expenditure falling on the council, and lie ui-cred the earlv tar-sealing of some ol the by-roads. The people, however, would gladlv await their turn. Cr. Gamlin said it was worth notice that they had finished with seveial payments while the hospital leiy-hacfi been doubled. He was satisfied the roads would get good attention this year.