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Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1921, Page 2

The complete hold-up of expenditure of public works grants, as indicated at the recent County meeting in the various letters from the Government de-

With the closing of the Overseas lDoins comes the question, A\ lifif of tho Overseas members P In regard to the qUe r y Mr Evans, the President, states the lUembers are to circularised in refci - enee to carrying on as a club, or, as members directly of the parent body in London—which is world-wide in its ramifications. The local branch, Mr Evans said, was called into activity by reason of war work. There were several local members attached to 'tho London headquarters at the time, but there was here the need of an organisation to take up various patriotic activities first in .connection with the departure of the soldiers; second in organising th e despatch of comforts; third in receiving the men on return, and fourth in providing a rendezvous for the returned men and the war workers. '1 liese four objectives the local branch fulfilled, and it will be recalled what a zest was put into the send-offs'; the success of the tobacco and comforts fund; the cordial welcome home extended; and the hospitality extended to the returned men ever since. The Branch fdled another important duty—it was a centre of loyal activity, and kept shining bright those loyal sentiments and feelings for which the people of this district have been distinguished. It became as it were a loyalty league, and was responsible for maintaining a very fine spirit in the town for the duration of the war and after. In this respect tlq, members co-operated very heartily, and as there is as much need now as ever to maintain that spirit, the present officers of the local Club propose to put it to the members in th» course of a few days, whether they will.continue as an active branch, or individually attach themselves to the main centre in London where the headquarters of the Overseas has an established organisation. Seeing that there is the need for organisation of this character it is to be hoped the local branch will not pass out of existence, hut continue in some form an active force to perpetuate the good work it has to its credit over ’the past four and a half years of really useful activity.

partments, is a manifest injustice. No matter how urgent the work might lie, it has got to stand ove r for a period of at least 'six months, that being the duration of the embargo mentioned by some of the departmental letters. The votes of Parliament last year will require in the main to be revoted this year, and this volume of expenditure will mean very little “new” money will be added for fresh works, so that in addition to time, money is to be lost also for public works development. Urgent works are put back, also, there being no elasticity about the new regulation prohibiting expenditure. In t meantime Very little is heard of Mr Massey’s loan raising effort, but no doubt no opportunity is being missed to advance these negotiations. A great deal depends on the success in that direction, as money in" the Treasury seems to he as scarce as Sir F. D. Bell’s blunt phrase put it—the coffers are empty. The general hold-up of Expenditure is a blow at national development, and no doubt the Government will be called to account for this faulty administration. The remissness appears to have been that while foreseeing what was gloing to happen, and preaching economy for preparedness for the event uni stringency, the Government failed to practice what they advised the people to perform. At the eleventh hour an effort is being made to redeem the situation, hut in a very dislocating way. and the country is feeling the effects in all directions. The Ministers who are in charge of Departments responsible for an important share in the public expenditure, must he having a very unpleasant experience, and to that extent are to be sympathised with, hut they must be prepared to l>ear a good deal of the blame involved for the situation, seeing that Cabinet as a whole had its hand on the pulse of the position all along, and Ministers should have read the signs right.