Newmarket Mayor Faces Angry Council

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 423, 3 August 1928, Page 7

Newmarket Mayor Faces Angry Council

HOSTILITY AT MEETING RATEPAYERS’ NEWSPAPER The unhappy simmerings of domestic infelicity which have disturbed the proceedings of the Newmarket Borough Council for the past few months broke into open disturbance last evening, when a special meeting resulted in a lively exchange of personalities and the announcement that certain councillors will approach the Supreme Court to force the Mayor to put a motion. The council was called-together upon the requisition of Crs. H. Gregory, 11. J Cooper, N. Ke lie way and G. E. Smerdon, in order that the published statements of a new news sheet called the “Newmarket Ratepayers’ Gazette” may be discussed. Tne new paper, which was published tor the first time last week, contained long reference to the controversy about tram stops and trafiic routes within the borough, and inferred by its headlines that several councillors had insulted the ratepayers by retraining from attending a public meeting held recently. The statements, which accused councillors of inducing the council to dabble in land, and contained the phrase, “Monkeying in land values,” were stated by Cr. Gregory to be improper and misleading. He denied the inference that commercial gain had been the actuating motive behind councillors’ actions, and refuted the assertion that the general fund could not stand the strain of the proposed street extension scheme. It had been already outlined that the scheme would not cost the ratepayers a penny, but on the contrary, would be a profitable venture. Cr. Gregory moved this resolution: “That tlio council views with some concern the misleading and improper statements which have been circulated throughout the district by a body calling itself the Newmarket Progressive Association, in a paper called the ’Newmarket Ratepayers’ Gazette,’ and, with a view to refuting the said improper statements, and of stopping any further issue thereof, a copy of the “Gazette” be handed to the borough solicitor for his consideration, with a request that he advise what steps should be taken to this end; and that the town clerk be instructed to confer with the borough solicitor in this connection and make available any record or minutes which the solicitor may require.” MAYOR’S STAND Cr. Smerdon seconded. The Mayor, Mr. S. Donaldson, would not put this resolution, however, as he described the proceedings as decidedly unfair. “I am not going to have the council shouldered with the responsibility of securing legal advice for any councillor or with shouldering the costs of litigation,” he said. “Members were quite content with the circulation of another local paper which served up news with regard to schemes that would be in the interests of certain councillors. Anyone who has read that particular paper will admit I have had to submit to a good deal of misrepresentation and criticism, but no councillor raised a voice against it, and I had to put up with it. “The event of the new paper coming out was deemed of sufficient importance for certain councillors to call this special meeting. I have heard a lot of rumours about legal advice being taken and threats of dire consequences for the editor, but I consider it is a bit of bluff and do not think it will cause anyone loss of sleep. If I were to venture a guess at the man responsible, I would say Mr. Gregory was the man.” Cr. J. Hardley: You are only guessing. “BASE INSINUATION” The Alayor inferred that Crs. Gregory, Cooper and Hardley supported the Osborn scheme only -when they saw how the firms they were connected with were situated with regard to it, and All*. Cooper had opposed the scheme until he purchased a certain section of land. Cr. Smerdon: It is a base insinuation against a councillor. Cr. Hardley: I ask the Alayor to withdraw his statement. It is a mean insinuation. Personally, it would suit me better if no extension of the street were made at all. Cr. Gregory: As far as my firm is concerned, our property is not within 100 feet of the road. The Alayor: Cr. Townsend opposed the scheme till recently. Cr. Townsend: But I woke up to it. Things became heated, and words were flung with disregard of personal feelings across the council chamber. Several councillors rose in protest to leavo tho room, declaring that they could not listen further to the Mayor’s remarks. Cr. T. J. Watts, who had not taken an active part in the heated proceedings, reminded the council that the situation was painful to witness. I-Ie personally had been attacked, but legal remedies were being produced for that. He was concerned about the council’s prestige with the ratepayers. Cr. Hardley: Put the motion and stop Insulting the councillors. Tho Alayor: I am not going to put it. 1 am not going to.allow the ratepayers to be made catspaws. Cr. Cooper said that if it was a question of the cost involved in seeking legal expense, he would shoulder the initial expense himself. The Alayor: No, it is a matter of principle. The Alayor, to the consternation of infuriated councillors, declared tli© meeting closed, but not before Cr. Gregory had intimated his intention to secure from the Supreme Court a writ of mandamus to compel the Alayor to put the motion.