WATER FROM WAIKATO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21639, 3 November 1933, Page 12

WATER FROM WAIKATO

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE A NEUTRAL ATTITUDE APPEALS DISREGARDED ]n spite of appeals from the various parties concerned in 'the water supply problem. the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce declined yesterday to express a decided opinion on the question or to embark upon an inquiry into it. The executive of the chamber recommended that in view of the many issv.es involved the matter should be deemed one on which the chamber should not make a pronouncement. Mr. S. Takle. who represents the Ciiv Council on the council of the chamber, said that some time ago the chamber had urged the City Council to reduce expenditure and rates. If the chamber held aloof from the water supply question it would not be helping the council in its efforts toward economy. Experience had shown that such collections as the one now sought by the Waikato company were often sold to the community at high prices when they were no longer profitable to the coneessionnaires. The City Council courted independent investigation into its water business, and claimed the support of the Chamber of Commerce in keeping down city ratepayers' costs. i\hich would certainly be increased if ignorant- criticism and the claims of i ested interests were allowed to pass unchecked. Mr. Takle suggested that if the executive had no time t-o go into the question a select committee should be set up. Mr. Gainor Jackson moved as an amendment that the chamber affirm that the information available was inadequate to enable it to express a decided opinion at the present time. Mr. A. G. Lunn said that while he upheld the chambers view that private trading should be interfered with as little as possible, he felt that important public utilities should not be in private hands. Mr. W. A. Boucher said the chamber should place itself definitely behind the Waikato Water Supply Company's venture. Huge public utility schemes had been carried out by private enterprise in other parts of the Empire, particularly Canada. Personally, he had do interest in the Waikato project, but •he thought it would be a fatal blunder for the chamber to deprecate it. The president, Mr. Harvey. Turner, said the chamber had been asked for support by all the principal parties interested. Mr. Jackson asked to be allowed to add to his motion that a committee be set up to obtain evidence and report. The addition was allowed. Mr. A. M. Seaman remarked that the chamber could scarcely get from its own membership a committee that would be competent to give a decisive opinion. Mr. Jackson was allowed to delete his proposal to set up a committee, and his original amendment was carried.