ANNUAL MEETINGS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 23 November 1911, Page 5

ANNUAL MEETINGS

HAWERA.

The statutory annual meetings of-the County Councils was held at noon on Wednesday. At Hawera County Council meeting there were present: Crs. Duirs, Goodland, Winks, Murdoch, Dunlop and Tarrant.

The Acting-Clerk (Mr Stringer) welcomed the councillors back to the Council again. He then invited nominations for the office of chairman.

Cr. Duns proposed that Cr. Goodland be chairman for the ensuing year. Cr. Tarrant had pleasure in seconding that. He said Cr. Goodland was the man they all wanted, and would, be the right man in the right place. Cr. Duirs: Yes. Cr. ..Goodland moved an amendment that Cr. Winks be appointed. . Cr. Winks declined while there was a possibility of getting Cr. Goodland. He thought Cr. Goodland should accept the position. >

Cr. Goodland: Cr.» Goodland does not want the position. He added that he would rather sit at the table and see another member in the chair.

Cr. Tarrant: dome have honors thrust upon them. (Laughter.) Cr. Goodland: Yes. Some were born with honors, others achieved honors and some don't have them at all. (Laughter.) There was no' seconder to the amendment, and the motion appointing Or. Goodland chairman was carried unanimously. Cr. Goodland, in taking the chair said: Well, gentlemen, I won't say I am pleased to take the position, for I am not. As L said just now, I would infinitely rather have, a sea.t at the table and one of you gentlemen to preside. I know what an amount of trouble and anxiety it is, and what a great tax upon a man s time it is-as well. As it seems to be the unanimous wish .that I should be chairman, I will accept it. The Chairman, turning to the Press table "I don't want you, Mr Reporter, to tell the people that I promised to do my best; I take it that everyone means to do his best for the interests of the "county as a whole.

It was resolved that the committee appointed to consider the question of the office site, be empowered to arrange for temporary accommodation.

The, appointment of. a County Clerk was discussed, and the Chairman moved that Mr Stringer be appointed. He spoke m complimentary terms of "Mr Stringer's work. • .

This was seconded by Cr. Tarrant. An amendment was proposed by Crs. Duirs and Winks that the position of clerk be advertised. They considered it would be better to advertise for an officer, and that it was their duty to the ratepayers to do so. , The amendment was lost arid the motion was carried by 4 votes to 2. Mr Stringer returned thanks-for the honor conferred upon him, and hoped that their confidence would not be misplaced.

A committee was appointed to draw up a schedule of duties, and the clerk was authorised to write to other Councils to ascertain if they had a schedule of duties for their clerks.

Mr Budge, who was in attendance expressed his willingness to give the Council and Mr Stringer every assistance ,

The Chairman and Mr Stringer thanked Mr Budge for his offer of assistance. - A letter was read from the Railway Department intimating that the Council could occupy the reserve at Mokoia, which it had been in negotiation for. , This was all the business, and the meeting adjourned.