CHAIRMAN RE-ELECTED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 161, 9 June 1939, Page 9

CHAIRMAN RE-ELECTED

OROUA COUNTY. GOOD FINANCIAL POSITION. Cr. A. Campbell was re-elected un- / opposed to the office of chairman of £ the Oromi County Council at the an- p nual meeting of the council yestcr- a day. Ip Cr. McLennan, in moving that Cr. Ji Campbell bo re-elected, said that the e council Imd a great leader in Cr. : s Campbell and could not improve on L its past selection. | The motion was second by Cr. j ‘ Stewart, who said ho appreciated tlio . service rendered by the chairman. ' il Crs. Ale Elroy and Green aiso sup- ,Sl ported ihe motion, the latter stating ■' that Cr. Campbell possessed a wonderful knowledge of county law and 1 was an impartial Ho had , held office since 192-1 and had only j. missed one meeting. As a member of N the finance committee tfie speaker was | very conversant with the chairman’s 1 s knowledge of county organisation aud !s efficient control. h Cr. Meblro.y said he had been happy 11 to sit at the council table with Cr. o Campbell, who was fully qualified t(» ■<| hold the office of chairman and en- c joyed the confidence and whole-heart- c oil support of members. i Cr. Campbell thanked the council i for rlie honour conferred by them. He had felt the responsibility of tho office, 1 hut his task had been made partieu- j v larly easy through the co-operation ol c councillors, who, similarly, felt tlieir T duties lay in service to the ratepay I crs. Cr. Campbell said that while the’ f future did not give promise of tho : 1 same easy times as in the pagt, lie i’clt.Ji that the destinies of the county were; assured. Lately little or nothing had s been heard on the question of the . amalgamation of local bodies, and lie ( felt assured that the Oroua County <) would survive. He was not in agree- ; x incut with the wholesale amalgama-j' tions of counties as suggested in tlio I < Minister’s proposals. Such amalgama-ji tions would not he productive of any ; j economies, but would result in ail in- jfcrcasod burden on ratepayers. ji Cr. Campbell added that he hmlji joined tho council in 1920 and had i considered then that if lie gave ten. years’ service lie would have done his 1 duty by his fellow settlors. He had, I however, found the work pleasing, and I while he was able to conduct tho nf- j fairs of the council lie was quite pro-j pared to offer his services to the : ratepayers. He hoped that the clay I would never come when local body J government would pass away, as he! held the view that it was the duty of citizens to give tlieir services in ■ that connection. A review of the affairs of the council was also given by the chairman. “The past year has been quite a successful one for the county; no large unexpected expenditure has been in-

curred,” Cr. Campbell said. “Major works carried out comprise the completion of the sealing of Poliangina Road, the sealing of the central portion of Haleombe township, the completion ol the largo culvert on Kimbolton Road, and the construction of a deviation and bridge across the 31aIcino Stream on Makino Road. Other important works commenced and well advanced include the construction of the bridge over the Makino Stream on Reid's Line, and the reconstruction and preparation for sealing of two miles of the Eeildiiig-llalcombe Road. The machinery, plant, and workshop have been kept fully employed throughthe year, and hn.ve been well maintained, the efficiency and condition of all machines being due to the very up-to-date workshop we possess, and flic care and attention given them by our machinery foreman and his assistant. Machinery purchased out of revenue during the year include a. power grader, and two trucks. From tlic machinery foreman’s report it is pleasing to note tlio great cflicienev and economy of all Diesel-powered machines. “The financial position of the county is in its usual healthy position, and this enables us to carry out each year our policy of putting in hand several important major works without having to raise now loans or increase.! lie rates. Tn our outside staff I consider we have as fine a lot of workers as could ho found anywhere in the country, n.nd I wish to express to them the appreciation of the council for the loval manner in which they have carried out their duties and the harmonious relations which exist between them and the council and its executive officers. As chairman I again express mv thanks to councillors and the staff for tlieir loyal assistance and co-oper-ation. and the Press for so fully reporting all business transacted at council meetings.”