A COSTLY "PICNIC."

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2798, 16 June 1916, Page 6

A COSTLY "PICNIC."

; 'DK. NEVvKAN COMPLAINS. A palpable Lit was ma-do by Di". Newman in a speech ho mado in the House last , night. He stud-that while , the Government often preached ■ economy and thrift, it did not set a very good example. "There have been most expensive little arrangements lately," . lie said. "Take, for instance, that trip to Hanmet Spring 3. I -want to call attention to the fact that there was . a special train to carry the party from Christchurch,'that a special lunch was provided fol- them, and that twenty-five "motor-cars were provided at a cost of "47 each—a total of .£175 paid for motor-cars for a picnic! While this goes on the patriotic societies are being asked for money continuously, and we do think that to spend ,£3OO on a pleasure trip of this kind is a gro3S extravagance. There have been others too, but not quite so bad. If the Government do'not'curtail expense of this kind their pleas for economy will be useless. I hear it bitterly complained about. I should never have said this, but' I have heard it spoken about so much, and I .know that the facts are Tight. People i Who have given most liberally for patriotic objects do complain, and say that money aot. to bo devoted to this sort of thing." The "picnic" to which Dr. Nemnan referred was the excursion to Hanmer to the opening of the Soldiers' Hospital there on June 3. The affair' was under tho control of the Minister o£ Public Health (Mr. G. W. Russell). .Later in the evening Dr. M'Nal> took an opportunity to defend the Minister of Puhlii; Health against the charge of extravagance levelled against him, lest, as he said, honourable members should fall into a misapprehension on the matter. He had communicated with Mr. Russell, who'was'in Chrietohurch, and obtained from him certain information. The sanatorium wa3 to be' the biggest in the South Island, and the Minister had deemed it wise to bring to tho opening ceremony a number of people interested in the treatment of sick and wounded soldiers.. There was such a heavy response to the invitations that the general public could not be admitted to the special train. Many private motor-cars had been provided, but somo others had to be obtained. The Minister desired to emphasise the suitability of Hanmei- for such an institution, and to demonstrate the sort of treatment being given the men.