NOTABLE RECORD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23985, 7 December 1939, Page 2

NOTABLE RECORD

COUNCILLOR FOR FORTYONE YEARS MR H. M. DRIVER’S SERVICES CONGRATULATIONS EXTENDED What is probably a record lor New Zealand of service on a public body is held by Cr H. M. Driver, who for 41 years has held continuous office as a member of the Bruce County Council. At this week’s meeting of the council Cr Driver was congratulated on completing this month so long a period of service to the county. Cr Driver was first elected to the council in December, 1898, and he has held office ever since. He has had to contest many elections in his time, and has been returned unopposed on only four or five occasions. The extent to which his services to his riding and to his county are appreciated is shown when he is returned election after election. Cr Driver has given a great deal of his time to county affairs, and in fact, has missed only one meeting in the past 41 years. He has held the nosition of chairman on four occasions

—in 1909. in 1912. from 1923 to 1924. and from 1933 to 1934. Mr Driver has not confined his public activities to the County Council, for he has served on various other local bodies and organisations. He was a member of the Otago Hospital Board for 12 years, and served on the South Otago Hospital board for nine years after its separation from the parent board. For nine years he was a member of the Otago Electric Power Board and for six years was a country representative on the Otago Harbour Board The Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society has had the benefit of Mr Driver’s support since 1895. and in 1934 he was elected a life member of that body in appreciation of his services. He is a life member of the Tokomairiro Young Farmers’ Club and he has also served on the Tokomairiro Domain Board, the Milburp School Committee, and on the Main Highways Council as the Bruce County’s representative. He has been a justice of the peace for the past 35 years. Although 74 years of age. Cr Driver does not look much over 60, and It seems that he has many terms ahead of him as $ councillor. He certainly has no intention of resigning his post for he is very proud of his record which he has been told must approach a world’s record. If he does retire his record will be in jeopardv, for Cr J Bennetts, of the Tuapeka Countv Council, has been a councillor for 40 years. In the meantime, however, the New Zealand record is Cr Driver’s, and he intends to retain it.