STATEMENTS REQUIRING EXPLANATION.

Taihape Daily Times, 13 July 1918, Page 4

STATEMENTS REQUIRING EXPLANATION.

The telegraphed report of a deputation to the Minister for Public Works either does the Minister a palpable injustice through misrepresentation, or the Minister has placed himself in a most unenviable position. While Parliament was in session Sir Wan. Fraser told Mr. Witty M.P, that he had plenty of money for urgent works such as the Otira Tunnel; he also told Mr J T.j M. Hornsby, M.P,, there was plenty of money for the completion of Parliament buildings The Minister continued: "I have more money at my disposal than I can spend, because I cannot get the men for either roads or bridges" Are we to understand that the Minister was joking while speaking in the House, just using the well understood methods of the "Square Deal" party, hoodwinking Members of Parliament into silence? This question arises because he told a deputation, headed by Mr R. W. Smith, M,P, and Mr W. T. Jennings, M.P, something diametrically the opposite, Sir William sarcastically told the deputation that the Public Works Department did not make motor roads. Yesterday, he said, "There is not a shilling available except for carrying on the war—not a shilling." When was the Minister speaking seriously, was it when he told the House that he had plenty of money at his disposal but could not get the men for road-making, or when he told the deputation, who asked that roads in the neglected Waimarino County should be-made passable for settlers who have gone into the faraway back country, he had not a shilling? The Minister brought himself

into this awkward dilemma, for if ho had not told Parliament that he had plenty of noney for roads, it is questionable whether the deputation would have journeyed to Wellington to interview him. Anyway Sir William, might have made some pretence at explaining away what appears a complete volti face.