AUCTIONEERS ANNOYED

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 103, 22 July 1927, Page 16

AUCTIONEERS ANNOYED

CIVIC SQUARE LEASES “CANVASSING” ALLEGED

A LLEGATIONS of “canvassing” of councillors were made by a deputation representing the Auckland Land and Estate Agents and Auctioneers’ Association, before the City Council last night. When the president, Mr. Crump, was asked to name the councillors who had been canvassed, he declined to do so unless in committee. The bone of contention was the appointment of an auctioneer to conduct the sale of the Civic Square leases. The council had made an appointment to which the association took exception, on the score that it had not been asked for a recommendation. This precedent, it was suggested, had been laid down by Sir James Gunson when Mayor. When the matter subsequently came up for discussion Cr. Allum moved that the appointment of Messrs. Samuel Vaile and Sons as sole agents should be rescinded. The appointment had been made with a majority of only one vote, he said, and naturally a good deal of feeling had been created outside. He suggested that the firms of Vaile and T. Mandeno Jackson should both act. “And justice will then be done,” he added. Cr. Ellen Melville seconded. Cr. Allum’s motion, however, was defeated by 12 votes to 8, so the Vaile appointment will stand.