PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1926, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

( by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASBOOIATIOK THE HOUSE. CHARGE OF FAVOURITISM. WELLINGTON. Aug. 28. The .House nice at 10.30 a.in. The Prime Minister intimated he wished to complete the- debate on the Public Works Statement and passing of estimates before the House rose. Ho immediately moved the House go into Committee of Supply for that purpose. On this the Leader ot the Opposition attacked tho Government on the grounds that some of their supporters had stated only Government supporters could get public money spent in their districts. In his own district, the Buller railway was being starved, not enough money being voted to complete a mile of line. In tho districts of Government, supporters, money in excess of the vote was spent. He was not against the expenditure of work necessary, but the Government had said the line in his own district was the most important in the Dominion, yet no money could be found to go on with it. The Government policy in this respect is to be deprecated. The cause ,;f Hie Coast, road from Westport to Grcymouth was similar. I* or eight years it had been dribbling on. Tile work lmd been conducted in a most unprolitalfo way.' I'lie charge of favouritism in expenditure qf public money was not bis but the claim a\as made by Government supporters, and lie asked the Prime Minister to deny it if lie could. Government’s only answer to his charge, with the ienaark to tho Buller Gorge railway was to vote the requisite money to carry it on to completion. Only eighteen miles remained to be done, but at the present rate of construction it. would take 43 years to finish. He protested against the discrimination being used against districts not represented by Government supporters. . Air Forbes said lie bad no complaint to make so far as the requirements of his own district were concerned but be agreed that greater energy could be displayed on larger South Island p|njeots. Air 801 l (Bay of Islands) denied he was responsible for the statement in bis paper that Government money would nnlv he spent in districts represented by, Government supporters. He had no sympathy with that policy and had repudiated it on the pi at fur m. Air Parry complained not sufficient was being done to relievo unemplov incut- in Auckland districts. Air Lysnar said ho and his districts were chafing under the feeling of great neglect. He asked the Prime Afinistor to look into the position before he left far England. It not he (All Lysnar) would have something to say on his return. Air Fraser wanted to know why the money voted for additions to mental hospital’s was not spent, in view of the serious over-crowding at these institutions. £193,000 was voted and onlv £77,000 spent. Why? Tien. J. G. Coates in reply to the charge of favouritism in expenditure of public money said last year lie had denied the accusation and during the last election he repeated the denial. Tf he thought political sway was likely to influence any Government, then tho sooner we had some better way of voting money the bettor. It was bis persona? desire to see the money fairly apportioned and he regretted very linic'.i he had not been able to do more for the Buller Gorge railway, but'there were reasons why lie had not been able to do so. WELLINGTON, Aug. 30. After luncheon on Saturday the debate on the Public Works Statement was continued until 5.20 p.m. when the House went into Committee of Supply to consider the estimates, when ii total sum < f £8,053.478 was voted in twenty minutes. At 5.40 p.m. the House rose until 7.30 p.m. on Alonday.