Newmarket Dispute Becomes Vigorous

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 430, 11 August 1928, Page 1

Newmarket Dispute Becomes Vigorous

MAYOR’S OPEN LETTER

COUNCILLOR’S CHALLENGE

The vigorous dispute between the Mayor of Newmarket, Mr. S. Donaldson, and a section of his council continues. Mr. Donaldson, in an open letter to the ratepayers,

makes assertions which are refuted by one of his councillors. In his open letter, Mr. Donaldson says: “For the first instalment of the Osborne Street scheme, costing roughly £14,000, and embracing a new road between Morrow and Station Streets, a new special rating area is to be formed. The £14,000 worth of improvements must be carried out by the borough at a cost to the special rating area of only £3,000 —surely this is good finance. In other words, it simply means that if the Borough Council will hand over to this special rating area about £II,OOO worth of borough assets, made available in this small portion of the major scheme, that the favoured few will find the interest and sinking fund on the £3,000 only; and when this is done, the remainder of the whole scheme will have to be borne by the general body of ratepayers.” Cr. H. Gregory refutes this in the following strain; Challenge to the Mayor of Newmarket:— I, Henry Gregory, at present a councillor on the Newmarket Borough Council, hereby challenge the Mayor of Newmarket, Mr. S. Donaldson, to prove per medium of The Sun, that the net cost of the roading scheme from Morrow Street to Station Street, will be, as he states, £14,000, or that it will cost the ratepayers, either inside or outside the special rating area, any extra rate. The reports and estimates as adopted by council to prove who is correct. If the Mayor can substantiate his statements I will willingly resign my seat on the council, and give £SO to any charitable institution—provided that he will resign if I am right. Signed: H. GREGORY, Councillor.