LOCAL BODY SERVICE

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1929, Page 10

LOCAL BODY SERVICE

MR. C. J. BELCHER’S RECORD RECOGNITION BY ASSOCIATES. COMPLIMENTARY DINNER GIVEN. About eighty representatives of all the local bodies in Taranaki gathered last night at the Central Hotel, Eltliam, to do honour to Mr. C. J. Belcher on his retirement from the positions of president of the Taranaki Local Bodies’, Association and chairman of the Eltham County Council. Mr. J. S. Connett, president of the association, was in the chair, and among those present were three of the Taranaki members of Parliament, Messrs C. A. Wilkinson, S. G. Smith and If. G. Dickie. After an excellent dinner had been served and the loyal toast had been honoured, Mr. H. V. S. Griffiths, Mayor of New Plymouth, proposed “Parliament,” the three members replying. In paying a tribute to Mr. Belcher, Mr. Smith said it was a pleasure to do honour to the guest. For his own part, if he could live as long as Mr. Belcher, have as long a record of service and retire with the respect and esteem Mr. Belcher had evidently won, he would feel that he had done something worth doing. Mr. Dickie congratulated Mr. Belcher on his long and useful service as a member of local bodies.

Air. Belcher’s health was proposed by the chairman, who said their guest might be termed the father of the Taranaki Local Bodies.’ Association. He had been chairman of several conferences held before the formation of the association, and had been largely instrumental in its establishment in 1921. He had been elected its first president and re-elected each year until now. That was an indication of the very high opinion held of Air. Belcher by his fellow members; in fact, if he had been willing to stand he would have been re.-elected president for many years to come.. Alany of those present had been associated with him in public life over a long period and recognised his sterling worth. A FRONT-RANKER. Air. Belcher was a front-ranker—-strong in his principles, progressive in his ideas and enthusiastic in his undertakings. As a farmer he was an example to his neighbours and as a representative of the people he was earnest and self-sacrificing, always endeavouring to do his best; He should get great satisfaction out of looking back over the progress of the public bodies with which he had been associated. One of these that he wished especially to mention was the Eltham County Council, one of the most progressive bodies in the Dominion, of which Mr. Belcher had been a member for over 20 years and chairman for 13 years. Taranaki was noted for its good roads and South Taranaki deserved the greatest honour because of its progress!vejiess in adopting the tar-sealing method of preserving good roads. Eltham had led the way, Waimate West and Hawera following, then Stratford, and later the North.

No greater compliment had been paid the Eltham Council than the adoption of its. methods by the Alain Highways Board. The Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association, with which Air. Belcher had been so closely associated, had done good work. It included representatives of every county and borough in the province, and its success was shown by the nature of that evening's gathering. All these representatives had desired an opportunity to express publicly their appreciation of Air. Belcher’s efforts on behalf of the association and the community. They asked him to accept an illuminated address expressing their feelings, and Jhe good wishes of every member for fiimself, Airs. Belcher and their family. Air. Connett read the address and handed it to Air. Belcher amid applause. It was signed by representatives of all the local bodies in Taranaki.

Mr. A. L. Campbell, on behalf of the Eltham County Council, presented & framed photograph of Air. Belcher. The members hoped, .he said, that Air. Belcher would have the photograph’ for many years to remind him of the long and honourable work and the esteem of his fellow-members. They were very proud of such a fine citizen. Mr. Belcher’s health was drunk with great enthusiasm. Air. Belcher, who was greeted with prolonged applause, said that he felt deeply grateful for the generous things that had been said 6 , the gift he had received, and the presence of so many friends around the table. “When I see before me so many gentlemen who have been so long associated with me and have come so far to this gathering, I am just the proudest man in New Zealand,” he added.

Air. Belcher went on to say that the first meeting of the Local Bodies’ Association had been held at Hawera, and ! its first success had been effected in re- | gard to wages, a uniform rate having | been obtained. Then the association had been able to make uniform by-laws which had been copied everywhere, and from that time it had gone on doing useful work not only for Taranaki but for 'the whole country. DAYS OF MUD ROADS. A good deal had been said about the roads. When he took up his section, nt 1895, there were only mud and clay roads. Thinking the district quite unsuitable for a woman he did not bring his wife and family, but for three winters running visited his Taranaki section and felled the bush. After that he was able to establish his family and he still lived in the same place.

So far as his work for local bodies was concerned he had always done what he could and he was glad to know that those associated with him felt he had succeeded. Their expression made him realise that he was losing a great deal in saying good-bye to the local bodies. In proposing the toast of the Taranuki Local Bodies’ Association, Air. Wilkinson referred to Mr. Belcher’s record as a public man, saying that many men in Taranaki had done great service on

local bodies but hardly one could show a finer record than Air. Belcher. Air, Connett responded, saying that the association was still endeavouring to solve many problems. For instance the Local Bodies' Loans Board started to ride rough-shod over them, but they were making very strong representations on that question. Mr. Connett also mentioned the question of hospital levies, saying that the local bodies were being asked to find too large a share of hospital costs. That subject was probably receiving more attention in Taranaki than anywhere else in New Zealand. Air. J. B. Alurdoch, who proposed the toast of the Alain Highways Board, expressed great regret at Air. Belcher’s retirement. He thought there was not another man in Taranaki or even in New Zealand who was so determined and so thorough in his management of public affairs. Air. P. Keller, district engineer of the Public Works Department, replied. Other toasts were: Hospital Boards (Air. E. Long—Mr. C.. H. Burgess and Mr A. L. Campbell); the secretary to the Local Bodies’ Association, Mr J. W. Tristram (the chairman); the Press (Mr. W. G. Walkley); the Ladies (Air. H. D. Forsyth—Alessrs. N. R. Cleland, J. F. Stevenson and H. G. Dickie, M.P.; the chairman (Air. A. O. Casey); and the Host and Hostess, Air. and Airs. A. O. Casey (the chairman).

During the evening songs were given by S. R. Carson and F. Silver and were greatly appreciated.