FAREWELL TO CHAIRMAN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 637, 13 April 1929, Page 6

FAREWELL TO CHAIRMAN

MR. E.L. WALTON RETIRES FROM HAURAKI COUNCIL

(From Our Own Correspondent) NGATE A, To-day.

A sincere tribute to the worth of the chairman of the Hauraki Plains County Council, Mr. E. L. Walton, and to the “father of the council,” Cr. J. C. Miller, both of whom are jiot seeking re-election, was paid by members of the council at the final meeting before the election on Thursday. In bidding farewell to members, the county chairman reported on the work accomplished in the past three years, and said that this could not have been undertaken had the councillors not had the interest of }h e whole district at heart. No member had an axe to grind, so time .was not wasted in discussion, and decisions were reached quickly. The ratepayers would be well repaid if they returned the same council. Cr. J. C. Miller, the first chairman of the council, recalled the many difficulties encountered in the first few years, when a start was being made from absolutely nothing, and when there was no road metal whatever available within the county. AH had worked manfully together, and now the county .was in a sound position, with everything working smoothly. Succeeding councils would have an easy time. Cr. C. W. Harris, a foundation member, expressed the regret of councillors at tfie loss of Messrs. Walton and Miller, and said that, while both fully deserved the fine testimonies received that day from the Turua people, the members of the council knew even better than the ratepayers of the worth of both men. . Cr. F. J. Mayn, another original member, said that both men could feel proud that they were leaving with the knowledge that, in all their dealings, they had been fair to the ratepayers and to the council. Cr. C. W. Parfitt, the other foundation member, said that their sense of justice must have appealed to all who took an interest in the work of the council.

All the other councillors spoke of their appreciation of the work of Crs. Walton and Miller, and said that the county was the richer for having had men of their calibre to lead it. Mr. Walter’s legal training, great local knowledge, far sight, charming manner, and ability to grasp the important points, had made him an exceptional chairman, whose place would probably never be filled so capably.’ Cr. Miller had been the one man in the first council with previous experience, and his long head and able leadership had enabled a path to be hewn along which later councils could move speedily and safely. On behalf of the councillors and the executive officers of the council, Cr. Walton was asked to accept a case of pipes and a fountain pen, and Cr. Miller a cigarette holder and a fountain pen as a token of what had already been ex nr » c spd.