INTEREST-FREE LOAN

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22611, 16 May 1945, Page 6

INTEREST-FREE LOAN

REPLY TO CRITICISM CASE OF ROTOWARO HALL Contending that the matter had been presented in a manner misleading to the electors of Hamilton and the public generally, the actingMinister of Mines, the Hon. J. O’Brien, said last night that Mr C. M. Bowden, M.P. for Wellington West, had made no attempt whatever to obtain the true facts of the ' financial arrangements for the erec- j tion of a public hall at the Rotowaro mining townships. “In every progressive country in ■ this world, and even here in New j Zealand, there has been a olamour J for an improvement in the amenities j in mining towns,” Mr O’Brien con- j tinued. “The efforts made by the | present Government in this diree- j tion have been applauded by both, sides of Parliament in this country. : In the ordinary way, the State assists in the provision of amenities by free i grants, which are supplemented by moneys raised by the residents and j funds granted by the colliery owners, j “In the case of the Rotowaro Hall, j the colliery owners, Taupiri Coal j Mines, Ltd., gave the land free to the Citizens’ League, and substantially j helped the league in other ways. The j league provided finance for seating I accommodation and interior fittings, j including talking equipment. In- I stead of making a free grant, as in j other cases, the Government decided j to make a loan to the league of the | amount involved in the erection of the hall. Its form of assistance was by way of loan without interest. “Those circumstances are not comparable with the ones referred to by Mr Bowden,” Mr O’Brien concluded. “He has made a great fuss about nothing, and if the National Party is sincere in its declaration of improving the conditions of the life of the miners it will support and not condemn the transaction. It simply means this, that a no-interest loan was granted instead of a direct State contribution, and the final result will be practically the same.”