MINISTER ACCUSED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23598, 7 September 1938, Page 10

MINISTER ACCUSED

BREEZE AT MEETING LOANS WITHOUT RATEPAYERS’ CONSENT GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE ‘Special to Daily Times) WELLINGTON, Sept. 6. A remark by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. E. Parry) at a sitting of the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to hear evidence on the Local Government (Amalgamation Schemes) Bill this afternoon caused quite a little breeze in the otherwise calm proceedings. After Mr H. Wilson, town clerk of the Newmarket Borough Council, had presented evidence for his council, the Minister remarked that all through the statement the council had been most jealous of the rights of the people, but it had not been so mindful when it had raised loans without the sanction of ratepayers. Mr Wilson replied that this had been done only once, and that was to raise a loan for unemployment. The council now had 174 men employed. This statement brought the Mayor of One Tree Hill (Mr I. J. Goldstine) to his feet. “ Considering that the Government came cap in hand to the local bodies, crying for them to find work for the unemployed and telling them that there was no necessity for them to consult the ratepayers regarding the raising of loans for the relief of unemployment,” he said. “ I consider that it is most unfair and unjust for the Minister now to throw ♦his in the face of a local body.' The Minister somewhat heatedly replied that the Government had never ‘old the 'local bodies that they could raise loans without obtaining the consent of ratepayers. “That is nonsense.” Mr Goldstine replied. “We had several Ministers crying to us to find work for the unemployed, and they told us it was not necessary to take a poll for a loan for the purpose. Personally. I always consulted my ratepayers, but it is most unfair on your part to blrme a local body which took your Government’s advice on the matter. The chairman of the Committee (Mr D. W. Coleman. M.P.) said that this appeared to be a storm in a teacup and there was no necessity for anyone to get heated about it. Mr Wilson had explained the position and thev could let the matter drop.