CONTENTIOUS WATER BILL.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 58, 6 September 1926, Page 8

CONTENTIOUS WATER BILL.

"It looks as if an attempt is being made to get this Bill through this House by stealth," remarked Mr. J. A. Lee (Auckland East) in the House of Representatives on Saturday afternoon when opposing the provision of the Auckland Provincial Water Board .Bill. "What are the. objections to the Bill?" asked the Minister of Lands (the Hon. A. D. M'Leod). "I do not believe in rush tactics, not even in argument," replied Mr. Lee. "I shall proceed leisurely so that the slow mind of the Minister of Lands can keep up with what I am saying." "You have not much room to become persona], anyhow," protested the Minister. Mr. Lee said that he made his remark in a jocose way, and if the Minister took offence he was sorry and would withdraw anything he had said. At a later stage Mr. Lee said the Bill would cause confusion in Auckland, as it would allow one water board to compete with another. He said that it contained 89 clauses, and those who opposed it would move about 200 amendments, so that before the Bill passed, if it ever did, members of the House would have the opportunity to go in for a good deal of physical drill. "Localities bringing legislation of this kind forward should come to unanimity before presenting their Bill to tho House," remarked the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland). "Every local menber concerned—Reform, Liberal, and Labour— should be consulted before such a measure is introduced. After a discussion lasting all the afternoon tho debate on the Bill was adjourned, j '