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Allan Hubbard says he is still too distressed to talk about what has happened to South Canterbury Finance, after giving a lifetime of service to the company.
But plenty of people in Timaru are talking, and tvnz.co.nz's message board has been flooded with comment. Some are saying finance minister Bill English is out of line, in telling investors they should be thankful to the taxpayers.
Hubbard and his wife were seen driving from the SCF offices today, an indication they are still working, despite the company being in receivership.
And they are still being supported by many investors and interested observers in Timaru.
"The Hubbards are not crooks, they are God-fearing people," said Nelly van Berkel, a former SCF investor.
Even shareholders in SCF, who aren't covered by the government's guarantee like investors are, are standing by their man.
Laurence Wallace, a preferential shareholder, will lose his savings but said he holds no animosity towards the Hubbards.
"I'll definitely make an appointment to go see them, tell them I appreciate everything they've done for me in the past, and that I hold no animosity to them. I feel sorry for them," he said.
There's less sympathy for Finance Minister Bill English's comments yesterday to those investors who will get their money back, thanks to the scheme.
"I would hope that the depositors of South Canterbury and those who are supporting the company are grateful for the support of the New Zealand taxpayer," said English.
Timaru resident John Fahey said he didn't think it was fair comment.
"I don't think the people involved with Mr Hubbard will agree with that at all," he said.
Helen Henderson, another preferential shareholder, isn't covered by the government's guarantee either and she's not impressed with English's advice.
"Despite the white knight comments of Mr English that he has saved all of the investors, there has been a downside for me," she said.
But not everyone's condemning the finance minister, among them Peter Townsend of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce.
"Well I think that Timaru is fortunate that the government has got involved because it's avoided a very messy situation. Of course Bill English wants a whole lot of credit for that," he said.
"I think it's a situation of disaster averted. The government had to step in, they stepped in and we've got certainty of process now and that will be a huge relief to everyone."
Timaru resident Ray Johnston also thinks locals should be grateful.
"A lot of people thought they were going to lose their money, lose their shirts. I think people of South Canterbury should be very grateful."
Townsend added: "I think people will look back on this and say 'yes government, job well done'."
In their statement, the Hubbards thanked "all of those generous folk" who have sent their messages of support to them.
They also said they will be ready to speak out once their advisers have taken their own analysis of the statutory manager's report.
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Post new commentjoeyblogs said on 2010-09-01 @ 21:45 NZDT: Report abusive post
Anyone who has recieved a payout from SCF because of the government should be grateful and thankful to the rest of the country who all had $405 of their yearly tax payed to them. They stood to loose everything and instead the rest of the country pay for their greedy and stupid investments.