AUCKLAND CIVIC SQUARE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 16 June 1928, Page 8

AUCKLAND CIVIC SQUARE.

COUNCILLOR AND LESSEE. STATEMENT R-EAD AT COUNCIL ‘ . MEETING. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND. June. 15. The Mayor of Auckland (Mr Baildom) stated at the City Council meeting lust night that all leases of the Civic'Square, on which' valuable properties wemrlemolMlied a few years ago, had been sold, with'.the exception of two lots, the aggregate. rental of the iseotioim so far leased being,: £7071 per annum. Tlie '.Mayor said that -there had been rumours stud ‘insinuation® concerning the leases. He produced a written ■ .statement hv Air Reuben Jaffe, the purchaser'of .the lease of ot -5. Air Jafl'e stated that- after bis. purchase he was waited upon by Councillor Murray, who said he would assist in obtaining the council’s permission to extend the period fixed for the payment of rent, and asked for a, contribution to his (Air A tun-ray’.si fund l towards bis casts; in the inquiry in respect to his ,al legations- in regard to> alleged irregularities in City Council transactions. He declined to contribute more than ten Later Or. Alurrav told "Mm that- ’ho would have to give> him more money for his fund, and said that for his own good he must see Jerry Lundon at once. llv arrangement, he met Cr. Murray and Air Lundon. During the conversation, Air Lundon said-: “What are the (Mayor and councillors getting out of von?” He (Mr Jaffe) replied;: 'AVhat- a wrong .miestion to ask me.” Air Lundon replied: “Do you mean to toll me the AT ay or can live on his honorarium and that he- is not gettingromething out of this?” He (Mr Jaffe) replied: “Emphatically no. I am disgusted at your suggestion. I have not riyuken- -to the -Mayor privately in. my life, nor to the Town Cork.” ATr Jaffe thought Air Lpndon used these expressions after Cr. Murray had gone. Air Lundon became insistent on Inn (Air Jaffe) contrbuting to Cr. Murray’s fund. He (Air Jaffe) said he might give £lO When matters were finally settled. Air Lundon bluntly said! “Promisee are no good to me. You must 'dec me the money immediately.” Tills he (ATr Jaffe) declined to do, and the interview ended. The general impression toft on him (Air Jaffe) by his 1 attest interview with Or. Murray was -that .-ho . (Qvz? .Alirniayt -wmild -not ladsiistr'with his influence' as a councillor, but would use hi? influence against him (Mr Jaffe) unless he contributed to Or. Alurrav’s Lind. This impression was not given hv any specific statement, but was ■vtliered from the general run of Or. Murray's balk and from his attitude. Gr. 'Murray mid that these-, stateincpts were intxeeixVate and untrue. He would reply at some future date. On the ’ Mayor’s motion. Air Jaffc’s statommit was referred to the legal committee for innnirv and repoiit.