NEWMARKET SQUABBLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 247, 18 October 1928, Page 9

NEWMARKET SQUABBLE.

COUNCILLORS BITTER.

MAYOR AND "THE SEVEF."

REPEATED RECRIMINATIONS.

"There's going t« be fun at the meeting to-night," were the words with which a representative of the "Star" was greeted when he entered the Newmarket Council Chamber last night. The actual business occupied about thirty minutes, and the extra hour and a-half was taken up by personal squabbles and recriminations.. On one occasion Mr. H. Gregory challenged the Mayor to resign, and said he would do likewise and contest the seat with him. The Mayor (Mr. S. Donaldson) merely remarked there would be no change in the position if they did fight for the seat.

The first shot was fired by Mr. Gregory when a plan was submitted by the manger of the city tramways of the proposed alterations to the tramway system on "the triangle." Mr. Gregory said the plan should have been submitted to the council before small copies of it were broadcasted round the borough by the Mayor.

Mr. Donaldson said that was the" first time he had seen that official plan of the proposed alterations. "Personal Attacks Unfair." Mr. Gregory said the ratepayers, by their vote the next day, would settle the matter the proper way. He objected to the way councillors had been attacked ill this matter. Fair criticism was all right, but personal attacks were unfair. Mr.H. J. Cooper said he had not seen the plan until that night. The Mayor took the plan away, and issued small copies of it to the general public.

The Mayor repeated that it was the first time he had seen that official plan. He thought it was a copy he received.

Mr. Gregory said then that plan should have been laid before the council. He did not consider that was gentlemanly treatment of the members of the council.

The next attack made by Mr. Gregory was based upon the fact that the Mayor had drawn his whole honorarium of £200 during the first half of the year. Drawing it in advance, he said, meant that the second £100 had to come out of overdraft, upon which the borough must pay interest.

The Mayor: It is a despicable question you are raising. If you have the courage of your convictions, move a resolution condemning me. Mr. T. J. Watts said that most mayors drew their honoraria in advance. The matter was then dropped. "You are Asking for It." Mr. H. J. Cooper:' Is it not a fact you said you would make my name stink in Newmarket? If you did say it, I don't ask you to apologise, but to withdraw such a statement. The Mayor: What I did say was probably that your name stinks in Newmarket—since you are asking for it. Mr. Cooper: That is not a thing any decent man would say. Mr. Gregory: The same applies to the way you have attacked me since I have been a member of this council.

The Mayors Are you satisfied you have done the right thing? Mr. Gregory: I am, but you said we were speculators, and that my speculations would benefit by the back road scheme.

j The Mayor: You are on a fisMng excursion.

Mr. Gregory: You can't prove the statement you made. Do you know ot any action I have done for my personal benefit in this matter. We are here to do ojir best for the ratepayers. All this talk about speculations applies to another councillor and myself. The Mayor said the matter spoke for itself. ' Mr. Gregory: I have never attacked your character outside. It was at this stage that Mr. Gregory challenged the Mayor to resign, and Mr. Donaldson replied that he would not. "Back Road Advocates." The Mayor some time afterwards referred to "back road advocates," and added: "It's the bfggest bit of graft." Mr. G. E. Smerdon then sprang up and said: "I ask you to withdraw that." Mr. Gregory walked out of the council chamber.

Mr. J. Hardlev next took the floor. Addressing the Mayor he remarked: "You said that Councillor Cooper's name stinks, and yet he bought the land at public auction, and afterwards offered it to the council at the same price. Do you think that is fair criticism? You have turneG round and accused seven councillors of graft. You maintain you are the only honest one possessing the confidence or the public, and all the rest are grafters, that their, names stink, and taking it for all in all, they are a villainous lot.- I for one am not going to take that. I say it's a disgrace to this council,'and 1 think you ought to apologise • now."

Shortly afterwards the Mayor said there was no further business to be dealt with.