OTTAWA EXPENSES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 400, 8 December 1932, Page 5

OTTAWA EXPENSES

("Post" Special Commissioner).'

MEMBERS CURIOUS LABOUR PARTY ASKS IF THE ACCOUNTS ARE FINAL THOSE NIGHT CLUBS

Wellington, Wednesday. A further amount of £450 which appears in the supplementary estimates to cover the additional expenses of the New Zealand delegation to the Imperial Conference at Ottawa, gave rise to discussion in the House of Representatives to-night and comments from the Labour benches brought a sharp rebuke from the Minister for Public Works. Mr. J. Lee (Labour, Grey Lynn), asked whether the member for Wairau, Mr E. F. Healey (Coalition) had participated in the additional expenses in view of the back-door lobbying he was supposed to have done? Mr. Coates said that Mr. Healy had not done any back-door lobbying. He had offered his services free and had never asked for payment at any time. The inquiry by Mr. Lee was utterly ixnjustifiable.

Mr. E. G. Howard (Labour, Christchurch Souih), asked why the Ottawa expenses had not been presented It was almost impossible to find out the expenses incurred by Ministers. He was not questioning the amount of the expenses as New Zealand was not over gcnerous in the matter of expenses, but be did eomplain about the lnanner in, which the accounts were kept.

Rev. Clyde Carr (Labour, Timaru) said that tho previous vote for the Ottawa delegation had been £3750, and hc asked whether the additional amount was to be a final payment, He had notieed from newspaper reports that the night c'ubs across the river had been popular with delegates, but he knew that was nct true. Mr. Coates said the additional amount was to cover the general expenses of the delegation. It had to be remembered, when the main estimates were prepared that the delegation had not returned and an additional amount had been required to meet expenses which had been incurred. Naturally reeeipts and vouchers had been shown for the amount involved. The remark made by Mr. Carr was beneath contempt. Mr. Carr: "I said that it was not txme." Mr. Coates: "Then why mention it?." Tho Chairman of Committees: Order! Order!