SOUTH ISLAND M.P'S NOT DOING THEIR JOB

Chronicle (Levin), 15 August 1947, Page 2

SOUTH ISLAND M.P'S NOT DOING THEIR JOB

Press Association)

(Per

GREYMOUTH, August 13. "It is astoundiug to ino kew little our mcmbers of Parliament lcuow about ihe conditions surrouudiiig tlio tliiiig^ tlioy are dealing witli; they simpJv ask for reports from civil servants. In fac't 1 went so far the other duy as lu sav we \yiil be goverucd bv civil servants iustead of our elected representatives, " said Mr. E. H. Audrews Muyor of Christchurch, and president of the youth ryland Local Bodies' Association, at a meeting of the exeeutive of the association at Greymouth. His statement followed a report bv Mr. G. ffowley (Westland County Council), about the result of the associ'atiou's repretfentatious on the manufacture of whitc pine butter boxes on the West Coast. Mr, Powley had said that the Commissiouer of ytale Forests, Mr. ykinner. had stated in an intervievv that lie wa,not avvare that Ihe Hokitika butter-box factory had closed down. Mr. Audrews said he tliought the uiember had reason to complain. Their representatives iu Parliament should take a more personal interest in matters roferred to them iustead of referring them to civil servants. Mr. Audrews cited a ease of whicli he was aware in which a Miuister had dropped his ovyn proposaJ for dealing with a eertain matter to accept the suggestion of a civil servant, which proved to be a complete tiasco. "I do feel we have some justilication for criticising our M.P. 's in the youth," lie* said. "They do not eome down and invesligate, but just take their oflicers' word. , That is one reason why this association was formed and wo are^ now getting soniowlierc gradually, as the report of Mr. Ilowlcv shows. "