"LOBBYING" ALLEGED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21934, 18 October 1934, Page 12

"LOBBYING" ALLEGED

WATER BOARD BILL POWERS OF CITY COUNCIL GENERAL DENIAL GIVEN TSIEGKAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Wednesday An allegation that the Auckland City Council had "lobbied" Auckland members of Parliament in connection with the water supply issue, made by Mr. H. Harris —Waitemata} in the House to-day, brought denials from several other members that any such methods had been practised. When speaking on the report by the Local Bills Committee on the Auckland Provincial Water Board Bill, Mr. Harris said it was well known that the City Council had certain supporters in the House. The council "lobbied" those members, who then; blocked bills to which the council was opposed. The City Council hid power to do that. Mr. Speaker asked Mr. Harris what he meant by that remark. Mr. Harris: The City Council is able to get any bill it likes through the House or to block any bill to which it is opposed. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. M. J. Savage, who was the next speaker, said he took exception to that statement. Several other members also referred to the lobbying allegation. Mr. F. Langstone vLabour —Waimarino) said he had certainly never been approached. Mr. S. 6. Smith (Government —New Plymouth'* also said he desired to be dissociated from that suggestion. As chairman ox last year's Water Bill Committee, he could* say that no one had approached him on behalf of the City Council, and he had never known any Auckland member of Parliament to do other .than simply state the case from his own point of view. Mr. R. Semple (Labour —Wellington East>. who was a member of the same committee, gave a similar assurance, saying he had never heard of any member being; button-holed and asked to vote one way or the other on the question. Finally, Mr. A. E. Jull (Government —-WairarapaK chairman of the Local Bills Committee, said he had never been approached in the manner suggested, nor did he believe such overtures had been made to any other member of the committee.