MURCHISON COUNTY COUNCIL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 2 June 1930, Page 7

MURCHISON COUNTY COUNCIL

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN (From Our Own Correspondent) At a special meeting of the Murchison County Council held for the purpose of electing a chairman, there were present: Councillors H. J. Stewart, J. Badcock, M. Cole, F. H. Newman,. T. O. Morel and J. Thomson. _ The clerk \ presided, as required by section 75 of the' Counties Act, 1920, and called upon the council to elect a chairman for The- ensuing year.-; ./ Councillor Morel moved that .Councillor Stewart be re-elected chairman, remarking that in/ his opinion Councillor Stewartvhad carried out his duties during the,past year satisfactorily aiid well. . ' ... In seconding the motion, Councillor Cole endorsed Councillor Morel’s remarks, and stated that although at the time he had opposed the, extra honorarium granted, Councillor Stewart had earned it. ' ■, . In supporting, Councillor Badcock referred to the improvement in the financial position of the county since Councillor Stewart had been chairman. He also remarked on the improved position of the hydro-electric supply accounts. In (endorsing 'the yemarks of the previous speakers, Councillor Thomson stated that if Councillor Stewart did as well in the future as he had done in the past it would satisfy him. There being no other nomination the clerk declared. Councillor Stewart duly elected. ' . ~ , . . , . In congratulating the chairman on his re-election, Councillor Newman expressed the view that the chairman Lad last year over-earned his .honorarium, and in this connection he thought more travelling- about the country had been undertaken than should ihe expected ot a chairman. More should be left to the overseer. In acknowledgment, the chairman stated that he. would do his best m the interests of the county as a whole. Regarding the matter,of: travelling about the county, he did this because he thought the chairman should have firsthand knowledge of matters coming before the council,, and also because some ratepayers liked to see the chaiiman occasionally. He bad absolute confidence in tiie overseer, and was satisged that his estimates of cost of work were always to be depended upon. He also thanked the council and staff for their assistance during the past year. Referring to the clerk, he remarked on the considerable amount of extra work involved in connection with the Earthquake Relief Committee. In spite ot all this, the council s work had been kept up to date.