By 1905, the council was embroiled in numerous pieces of litigation, and was being criticised for refusing to pay judgments made against it in the Local Court. The council responded by claiming that the "aristocracy" wanted to "do away with the municipality" because it prevented them from doing as they liked. An extremely contentious municipal election in 1905 saw the returning officer assaulted and an election document destroyed by a mayoral candidate. The candidate then alleged that the town clerk and mayor had illegally attempted to prevent him from nominating. Subsequent court action found in favour of the accused mayoral candidate with costs on the civil counts and acquitted him on a criminal count. The Coolgardie Miner published an editorial in December that year condemning the council's unseemly conduct. The Norseman Times published multiple calls for the municipality's abolition in October 1906, one claiming that "three special acts have [had] to be passed in one session to condone its offences" because it had "transgress[ed] or neglect[ed] its duty". This was followed later that month by a further court defeat with costs awarded against the council.
