RETIRING COUNTY COUNCILLORS

Matamata Record, Volume XV, Issue 432, 7 May 1923, Page 3

RETIRING COUNTY COUNCILLORS

APPRECIATION OF SERVICES. Expressed at County Council Meeting. . Recognition of the services ronllered bv Cvs. E. C. Banks (Mata- " mata ridging), R. A. Bent (Putaruru riding), and J. E. West (Tokoroa riding), as members of the Matamata Countv Council, was recorded at Friday's meeting of the council, they not seeking re-election. Tn introducing the matter, the chairman, Cr. J. W. Anderson, stated that Mr. Banks had been the Matamata riding councillor for the past six years, and as all knew he had done good work. Messrs. Bent and West had occupied their scats for but one term, three years, and in that time had proved themselves capable members with broad outlook and broad sympathies. Remarks that little was heard of these two councillors had been made to him but he wished to say emphatically that it was not always the councillors who said the most that were the best members. Particularly creditable to jCfs. Bent and West was the fact that Slifchough when they took office their ridings were heavily overdrawn they each now showed a credit balance, so that incoming councillors for these ridings would succeed to a good financial position. 'ln endorsing the chairman's remarks, other members added that Cr. Bent particularly had had a hard row to hoe as councillor, for the recent legislation requesting liquidation of local body overdrafts by March 3J. last had made it necessary for him to save a very substantial sum out of the riding' revenue, leaving ~ little money to spend on works required in the riding. The motion to record appreciation of the retiring members' services was carried by acclamation —quite a rare happening in demonstrative enthusism for a meetintr of this Council.

$ In reply. Cr. Banks stated that in the Matamata. and adjoining ridings sanding should now be discontinued. Only by raisins: substantial loans for metalling- could the ratepayers there provide roads to cope with the everincreasing traffic. Cr. Banks also paid a tribute to the outstanding ability of the county clerk (Mr. H. Lewis, and the good work done by the county engineer (Mr. F. Shannon) and the Works Committee. Cr. West stated that his association with the Council had been a happy one, and if he bad succeeded in being a useful member he would so much more value it. Cr. Bent remarked that, as in the case of Cr. Banks, he. could not now spare the time involved by the duties of councillor. He regretted this somewhat, as. after haying been forced by the\ivprdraft linuidntion to a period of seeminrr ineffectuality as regards carrying out works in the riding, he would have liked the opportunity to undertake the expenditure of the road metalline 1 that had now bee" authorised. However, pressure of private work* would not permit of this. He would have retired some eighteen months ago"when he realised that owing to the overdraft position he could do but little, and the onlv reason that he did not then take that sten was disinclination to put the ridinnr to the unnecessary* expense of a further election.