DARGAVILLE BOMBSHELL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 927, 21 March 1930, Page 6

DARGAVILLE BOMBSHELL

'-T CR. SPANHAKE RESIGNS PROPOSED RATES INCREASE From Our Own Correspondent DARGAVILLK, Thursday. The resignation of Cr. S. L. Spanliake as a member of the Dargaville Borough Council came as a bombshell at last evening's meeting of the council. Cr. Spanhake, who topped the poll at the last election, held the position of Deputy-Mayor, and was also chairman of the. Works. Committee. In his capacity as chairman of the Works Committee, he presented a recommendation of the committee that a total of £550 should be made available for expenditure on highways, £1,404 on other roads, £1,627 on footpaths, and £267, 11s for contingencies —a total of £3,850.

In moving the recommendation, Cr. Spanhake said that the committee had gone fully into the requirements of the roads and footpaths. They had prepared the estimates, having in view the requirements of the town. Replying to Cr. F. ;C. Gould, Cr. Spanhake said lie was personally prepared to recommend that .the rates be increased. Cr. McLean said he was not in favour of any increase in rates. Cr. Ross pointed out that the rates would need to he increased by 21 to produce that amount.

After considerable discussion, Cr. Ross moved that the committee’s recommendation be referred back to the Roads and Works Committee. This was seconded by Cr. McLean. Cl’. Spanhake said he did not see that any good could be done in referring the question back to the committee. There was only £1,900 in the estimates for the maintenance of toads.

Further discussion . ensued. Cr. Ross’s amendment was carried, Crs. Ross, Ball,. Berry, Gould, McLean and Hosking voting for it, and Crs. Spanhake, Rope and Sundberg against it.

When the council came to general business, Cr. Spanhake said he would like the Mayor to accept his resignation. It seemed to him that his services would be of little use. The opinion had been expressed that the estimates would not be given consideration. He had been told that he was not a business man.

Crs. McLean, Ross. Berry, and the Mayor, Mr. F. A. Jones, asked Cr. Spanhake to reconsider his attitude, but he wrote out his resignation and banded it to the Mayor. “One of the hardest knocks I have had since I took office,” commented his Worship. In replying, Cr. Spanhake said that he had not taken their remarks personally. He was very pleased to hear their kind remarks. He had made up his mind to resign, and nothing would persuade hint to reconsider it.