'Orgy of Spending'

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 204, 14 September 1937, Page 7

'Orgy of Spending'

TAXPAYER'S MONEY Unremunerative Works Near Towns COUNTY NEGLECTED "An orgy of spending," was how memhers of the Hawke's Bay County Council "yesterday descrihed the large aniount of puhlic money that was heing expended adjacent to the towns on unremunerative works for the purpose of providing employment for men on sustenance. In the course of a discussion, in which it was stated tbat the waste of money had produced a disgraceful state of affairs, strong criticism was expressed of the failure t« recognise important and remunerative works in the country, so that settlers would derive henefit The council decided to forward a protest to the department, which is to be drafted by tho chairman, Mr. 1\ B. Logan, and the clerk, Mr. W. J. O'Connell. In it due regard is to be given of the good work that has been carried out, but it is to be pointed ont that important works in the country are being ignored. "It is most alarming to find huge sums of money being spent on works which machinery could do at a fraction of .the cost, and the most alarming feature of all is that this is being done all over the country, and the taxpayers have to pay for it," said Cr. M. S. Chambers, who opened the discussion by making referenee to a proposed work on Gilpin road, Havelock North. Cr. Chambers stated that he had been given to understand that the cost of this work would be vcry small, but that morning he had been informed that £1000 would be spent on it by nsing the unemployed, and the council 's share would be £75. Not Necessary. "This is a huge sum of money to be put into a bit of road which, although it will be an improvement, is not necessary," explained Cr. Chambers. "This is what is being done all over the country, and although the country should get in for its share of work, it seems to ine to be a slxocking waste of publie money. If the work was done at a time when it was diffieult for men to get work there would have been some justification for it, •and the council would have done its best to assist. It cannot be said that times are hard, and I would not like to be a party to the spending of such a large sum on such a small work." The chairtnan: Where is the £1000 going? Cr. Chambers: I can't understand where it is going. The work is to start at the top of Duart road and go down to the Maranga stream, which is only a few hundred yards. The road is quite serviceable, although a little narrow. It could be improved by cutting off a few corners, and a few fillings might be necessary. To spend such a lot of money on a work like this is out of all comparison to its value. "It is a most difScult matter to entice men out into the country while futile works are b^ing carried out adjacent to the towns," said the chairman in expressing agreement .with Cr. j Chambers' remarks. "Many of the works now being carried out are an enormous waste of the taxpayers' money. To what extant should wo lend ourselves to this orgy of spending? Is it right that because one council gets a large sum granted for a useless work . that we should follow suit? It is not right that wo should become a party to spending ratepayers' money on unprofitable works. It is wrong in principle. At the present time there is ample useful work for those on sustenance if they care to go into the country and help the farmer. We know of farm work which is being turned down because sustenance is more dosirable than work, and this is going to lead to the downfall of this country. I hope that wiser counsels will prevail before that downfall occurs. "Our unemploycnent iigures are really alarming, and I doubt if we are getting the correct figures," continued the chairman. "They are more alarming than they were this time last year. There is work to do for the men if they are prepared to go into the country and do it. "If we don't take advantage of the money we lose it, and someone else gets it," said Cr. S. Bennett. The chairman: Two wrongs don't make a right. I don't say that we should not get some money for useful work. If we take the money and spend it, as it has been spent, we would only be fostering the downfall of our country. Wrong In Principle "Whether we take it or not we, as taxpayers, will have to pay just the same," said' Cr. Chambers. "It is really foolish for us not to take it, but it is wrong in principle to grab the money just because it is being thrown

about. Someone should take a stand, and I don't feel like eontributing to something that is very annecessary, but at the same time if ic is not spent on this work it will be spent on the dole. It is a disgraceful state of affairs that money should be spent like this." We have only to take the straightening of the Ohiwia stream, which we can't get going," said the chairman. "It is an important work which will save both the road and some land. Work can be found on trifling jobs adjacent to the towns just for the sake of giving men .work to do. Roads that aro not carrying any traffic are being picked because they are handy to the towns, while jobs whioh would produce something worth while are being left well alone. It is awful to sit by and see the taxpayers' money being thrown about. ' ' "I agree with you," said Cr. E. H. Beamish. "Would it not he advisable to enter a protest, drawing the attention of the authorities concerned to the lax method of spending money merely to put men into work rather than the importance of the work. I have probably an axe to grind. In my riding tho Ohiwia stream is claimed to be an important work It has been shown to a Minister and to the Member for the district, yet we can get.nothing for it. Natives were living alohgside yet they wero drawing sustenance and doing nothing. " Tho chairman: The natives who were living within a stone 's throw were taken away to Botorua and other places to do work when they had work at their back-door. Cr. Beamish: I agree that transport is a diffienlty, but these were right on the spot. "I agree that a protest should be made," said Cr. C. C. Smith. Cr. Beamish: We should forward a letter to the department drawing attention to the appalling waste of money on unnecessary works- near the towns rather than spending it on other works of an urgent nature. It was agreed to leave it -to the chairman and to the clerk to forward the letter of protest. "You want to be careful in framing the protest," said Cr. C. Lassen. "I am not saying that some unnecesary work has not been done, but a lot of good work has also been done. The Itivers Board has had some splendid work done on the Awanui stream. The work done there is as good as could be seen anywhere. Good Works Waiting The chairman: I agree that some spJendid work has been done, but there are a lot of good works waiting to be done. Cr. Lassen: The Kennedy road extension might prove to be a good work. The chairman; While good work is still to be done we don't agree with useless work being done. In the protest 'wo will give credit for the good work that has been carried out. "We must make the protest so that it will not have a boomerang effeet," said Cr. W. Tucker. The chairman: The easiest way would be for a sum equal to that now being spent, being handed over to the council to spend. We could absorb a large proportion of the unemployed and do really good work. We have put forward essential work which has been ignored. Cr. Tueker: The Ohiwia stream is a good work which should be pushed on. "We have pushed it for two years and we could push ourselves to death in trying to get omething done with it," added the chairman.