Mr. J. C. Bolton At Woodlands Road

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 115, 16 May 1941, Page 10

Mr. J. C. Bolton At Woodlands Road

An atmosphere of friendliness and good fellowship prevailed at the meeting held at Woodlands Road on Wednesday evening when Mr. J. C. Bolton spoke to a fair audience on county affairs, and this feeling was illustrated by Mr. R. H. Morgan (one of the retiring members) occupying the chair. Opening the meeting, Mr. Morgan said he appreciated this honour, and that, whatever the outcome of to-morrow’s elections, it would mako no difference to the friendly attitudes of the candidates. Ho made feeling reference to the death of Gunner V. Smith, the first Woodville casualty of the war, who, said Mr. Morgan, had given his life for us. The meeting rose as a mark of respect. Opening his remarks, Mr. Bolton saul it had been suggested that it was no business of the Farmers’ Union to interfere in this election, but his view was that, if it was not the business of the local branch of the union, whose business was it? He explained the circumstances under which the matter arose at the Farmers’ Union executive meeting, and said that the council should welcome an election, as it gave them the opportunity of supporting their claims of the last few years.

Dealing with the subject of metal cartage, Mr. Bolton advocated the purchasing or hiring (preferably the latter) of a power shovel. The present system necessitates costly double handling. Private contractors who undertake fair-sized jobs would not often supply their own power shovel were it not cheaper. He said it would have been possible to purchase a power shovel without an increase in rates, had the advice given earlier been sound. Dealing with the financial position of the county, Mr. Bolton said it reflected prudent management, but at the same time it was an easy county to work. There was plenty of easily-obtained metal, which, in the case of other counties whose supply was not so easy and cheap to procure, represented a major problem. He was of the opinion that the council had acted wisely in building a reserve fund, as one never knew when it might be required.

Touching upon the use of the county car, Mr. Bolton spoke of what he termed the “loose’’ circumstances governing its use. He had heard much comment from all sides regarding it, and he would be failing in his duty if he did not raise the subject, and he said that tho circumstances governing the use of the car should not be so loose as to allow the slightest finger of suspicion to be pointed at any officer of tho council.

On the questiou of road maintenance, Mr. Bolton cited a specific instance of a •job which had been authorised almost three years ago, shortly after the last election. The fact that tho job had not yet been carried out seemed to indicate a fault somewhere. He did not infer that it was the riding member’s job to carry out a regular inspection of the roads; it was a job for the engineer. Mr. Bolton said that a reduction in the rates would be excellent, but it would bo a bad policy if it meant that road maintenance would be curtailed. Back country roads ho described as being only fair, and he was of the opinion that they had received the wrong treatment at times, being graded rather than metalled.

He was in perfect agreoment with the council’s policy of hiring out plant, etc., but was of tho opinion that the council should make use of it first.. Tho roller, he said, had done no work in the county for years, and it was unusual to keep ‘expensive equipment merely to hire to somebody else.

At the conclusion of Mr. Bolton’s address, Mr. E. D. Cattanach congratulated the speaker on his fair criticism. It had been a most friendly meeting, which Mr. Bolton had lifted entirely above personalities. Mr. R. H. Morgan spoke on similar lines to Mr. Cattanach, and expressed appreciation to Mr. Bolton for putting his views before the electors. Fair criticism was the only way to construction.

I The meeting concluded with a vote of I thanks, carried by acclamation, to Mr. Bolton.