“NO NEED TO WORRY”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 July 1938, Page 7

“NO NEED TO WORRY”

OVER LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL STATEMENT BY MR PARRY EVERY POSSIBLE AVENUE TO BE PURSUED (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The fate of the Local Government (Amalgamation Schemes) Bill was referred to by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon W. E. Parry, when speaking in the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives yesterday. The Minister denied a suggestion that he was runing away from principles which he had enunciated last session, and said that the special committee which had been set .up to hear evidence on the Bill would continue with its task until it was in a position to bring down a recommendation. Mr Parry said that those who were concerned about the fate of the Bill had no need to worry. He could assure them that he would continue to pursue every possible avenue and that ample discussion would be allowed before anything final was done. He did not think that attitude conflicted in any way with the statements he had made last session. He was well aware when he introduced the Bill that there was an important principle involved. The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Adam Hamilton: “Your proposals didn’t get a very healthy reception.” Mr Parry: “That is questionable. I got on very well with the county councils, and without casting any reflection upon previous Governments I think I can say I made, real progress toward a proper understanding of our problems. A good relationship was established, and that was worth while even if nothing else was achieved.” ALL VERY REASONABLE Mr Hamilton: “They are very reasonable.” Mr Parry: “Yes, and the Minister is very reasonable, too. When I embarked upon this very important question I knew the difficulties involved, and I knew the responsibilities that rested upon me. I wanted the assistance of the local bodies. I was not very popular with local members in some of the districts I visited.” The Rt Hon G. W. Forbes (Opposition, Hurunui): “We gave you a good time in Christchurch.” Mr Parry: “Yes, they very nearly agreed with me there. The House will appreciate my position. I wasn’t visiting the districts to spend a lot of m&ney. The business people knew I was not going to do that, and they were not concerned about my arrival. The local members of Parliament knew I was treading a pretty thorny path, and of course they weren’t anxious to play the band when I came to town. However, I ploughed my own furrow and didn’t involve the members if I could help it.”

On going through the country, added Mr Parry, he did not find one local body which did not believe in the need for reform, but which was itself prepared to allow its own interests to be affected. It was a most extraordinary state of affairs, but there it was. “I know I have a good case,” said ■ the Minister, “and the local bodies know it, too. It is just a question of working out the best method.”

Mr Forbes: “What about converting the ratepayers?” The Ministers: “We will convert them. The hon member would be surprised to see the correspondence I have received from people who were opposed to the Bill but who have since come to see considerable merit in it. Almost a revolution has taken place among a number of those people.”