MAYOR IN COURT BATTLE

A copy of Douglas Lockwood’s book THE FRONT DOOR –Darwin,1869-1969,Rigby, 1960s, is being offered for $50 in a Townsville op shop . It is a presentation copy from Darwin Mayor, Lucius Darcy ("Bill") Richardson, who became the first city father after local government was re-established in 1957 ; Richardson Park, the NT Rugby League ground is also named after him . Surprisingly, a note in the book says the "catalogue price" is $65. Richardson was involved in a 1959 Supreme Court case over who was entitled to be the mayor of Darwin . Mr Justice Kriewaldt was asked to declare if Richardson was eligible to be mayor and that a declaration be made that Harold Cooper, of Nightcliff , had been wrongly declared to that position. The case hinged on whether or not Richardson, a builder , held ratable land .With the mayoral election campaign underway right now, the book is an interesting link with the past .