THAMES AFFAIRS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21200, 24 August 1940, Page 18 (Supplement)

THAMES AFFAIRS

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE COMMISSIONER CONTROL (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Friday During the second reading in the House of Representatives today of the Thames Borough Commissioner Amendment Bill, which extends commissioner control for another six years and approves a loan for conversion, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, reviewed the establishment of commissioner control and discussed the success of both commissioners during their period of office. The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, congratulated the people of Thames on the way in which they had co-operated with the commissioner. The system was working well and the bondholders themselves should be well satisfied. The people of Thames, he thought, had made a good bargain. Mr J. Thorn (Government— Thames) said the Bill would bring very considerable relief to the Thames ratepayers, and also confer great benefit on the bondholders, as it would enable them to sell their bonds on the market if they so desired. Mr J. A. Lee’s Advice Mr J. A. Lee (Democratic Labour —Grey Lynn) said the real cure for the Thames difficulties was not so much the passing of the Bill as the application of the Labour Party’s policy to the problem. He strongly criticised the interest system generally, which in the case of Thames, he said, was standing between the ratepayers and a decent water supply. Mr A. E. Jull (Opposition—Waipawa) said he had been informed that one of the original Thames debenture holders at 6A per cent was Mr J. A. Lee himself. Mr Lee rose to a point of order, stating that at no time in his life had he ever held a half-penny worth of Thames debentures. Mr Jull accepted Mr Lee’s assurance and the Bill was read a second time.