GRIEVANCES BEFORE SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 286, 27 August 1920, Page 8

GRIEVANCES BEFORE SUPPLY

THE IMPREST BILL

THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH

It is a very old maxim in Parliamentary Government that there must be redress of grievances before Supply is voted. Nowadays there are few big grievances, remaining, but the number of little complaints is countless, and members follow tha old precedent to the extent that' they nevor agree to vote Supply without at least mentioning their grievances. The monthly Imprest Supply Bill was brought down .in the House of Eepresentatives yesterday, and members made full use of their opportunities of offering advice to the Government, Quite early, Dr. Newman drew attention to the lion's share of public works allocations going to the Auckland Province. Several other members from other parts of the North Island, and from every part of the South Island, supported Dr. Newman's complaint, and they certainly were able to shew that Auckland had boen exceedingly fortunate, especially in railway construction. This discussion was not at air jocular; was a trace of bitterness in the complaints, and tho Auckland members did not enjoy the business. South Island members made a protest against the neglect of their part of New Zealand. The debate was a very long drawn-out one, interesting only in patches. The debate collapsed at 0.30 a.m., and. the Bill passed all stages. The House/ rose at 0,40 a.m. •-..-.