NEEDLESS EXPENSE

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20497, 13 May 1938, Page 10

NEEDLESS EXPENSE

FORMER TRANSPORT BOARD MR SEMPLE’S ECONOMIES (Special to Times) MORRINSYILLE, Friday “When I was first asked to take the job of Minister of Transport I found I that there was an organisation called ! the co-ordination board,” said the i Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. I Semple, at Morrinsville last evening. “It was composed of three old gentlemen, and they had the power of granting licenses and fixing transport fares. They had no opposition and many of the fares they imposed on the people were prohibitive. “I objected to this, but they promptly told me to mind my own business. It appears that I was not supposed to interfere with anything they did. However, I soon let them know that I had been elected by the people of New Zealand, and I was not going to allow anyone to stand between me and my duties as a Minister of the Crown. And so.” continued Mr Semple. “I got, rid of them and told them that they were not needed any more. “Now I do their job and it, does not te.ke me more than ten minutes a week. For the same work they were getting £3OCO per year, so I have saved the people my salary in this alone. Do you blame me?” Cries of “No” greeted the Minister's question and continuing he stated that no one could honestly say he had squandered a penny of the people’s money.”