WORK FOR THE YEAR

Opunake Times, 12 June 1931, Page 3

WORK FOR THE YEAR

THROUGHOUT EGMONT COUNTY. Cl lAi UMAX HE-ELECTED. At tli(j annual mooting of the Egmoiit County Council, hold in Opunake on Tuesday, Mr. W. C. Green was reelected as chairman for the ensuing year. Members referred in terms of praise to the services rendered to the council by Cr. Green. After thanking the members for reelection, Cr. Green briefly reviewed the work of the year. The whole of the Main South and ERham Hoads had been graded and tar-seajed, the amount borrowed for this being £05,000. the Government subsidies bad been £45,000 and there was a balance left sufficient for the patching of any gaps. Work had also been carried out on the Sheet, Road, one and a half miles being renewed from revenue. The lhaia Hoad bad been tar-scaled from loan money and general revenue.

Kahui Hoad as a main highway, Air. Green said that when it had been taken over, the road had been in a bad state. It had been maintained out of the riding fund and had been declared a main highway to equalise the funds, of the ridings. Work had also been carried out on the Watino, Hatiki, Qkahu and the Alain South Hoads out of revenue. Generally speaking the roads of the county were in good order. Several bridges had been erected during the council’s term of office out of a loan amounting to £25,000, and subsidies of £12,000 and there was sufficient left of this to enable necessary alterations to be made to the bridges. In conclusion, Air. Green stated that if the council paid attention to the decisions of the works committee and took advantage of the labour now offering, the roads and bridges would still be further improved when the next year passed. Chairman’s Honorarium. When the matter of the fixing of the chairman’s honorarium arose, Cr. J. Young moved that it be £75 for the year, a reduction e" £25. Cr. J. S. Tosland seconded this motion and an amendment was moved by Cr. G. Gibson to the (dfect that the chairman’s honorarium be 10 per cent, less than it was previously. Air. Gibson considered that as the employees had received a 10 per cent, cut in salary the chairman’s honorarium should be reduced to the same exton.t Cr. Tosland: The position is different. The chairman’s honorarium is fixed for 12 months and cannot be altered.

Councillors pointed out that the honorarium in question was for the past year not for the year to come. Cr. Tosland said .that the time was one when services should he forgotten, and when the revenue should be looked into. The chairman was in a different position to the workmen. He was their representative and although his kcrvies were no doubt valuable, the fall in revenue would have to be met. Cr. Tosland said he was not speaking because of any personal feeling to Cr. Green, but because he had studied the economic position. Cr. J. F. Shepherd spoke in support of Cr. Tosland. Ratepayers would receive satisfaction in seeing a 25 per cent. cut. The amendment, that the honorarium be the same as previously, less 10 per cent., was carried. As a further amendment, Cr. Tosland moved that the honorarium be £BO. This lapsed, there being no seconder. Cr. Gibson’s amendment then became the motion and was carried. The engineer said that the county’s car was registered in the ordinary manner, but the other vehicles were exempt.