IMPREST SUPPLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 205, 27 August 1920, Page 7

IMPREST SUPPLY.

THE MONTHLY EXPENDITURE OVER TWO MILLIONS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association. \ WELLINGTON, Thursday. In the Houee of Representatives this afternoon the Imprest Bill No. 3, appropriating £3,264,900, "-was introduced by Administrator's Message, and a debate followed on the motion to go into Committee of Supply. The Prime Minister, replying to the Hon. W. D. 8- Mac Donald, Leader of the Opposition, said there were no new features in the schedules. The firat item, £2,100,000 for general expenses, might seem c large one, but the fact was that our expenditure was over £2,000,000 per month. The Hon. A. T. Ngata (Eastern Maori) complained that the Public Service under the Public Service Commissioners was becoming too independent of Ministers. There was too little coordination. He urged the Government to take in hand the reorganisation of the Public Service. Mr- Maeeey here incidentally mentioned that a bill was coming down this session that would eliminate a number of difficulties under which the Public Service Commissioners laboured. Mr. Ngata concluded by warning the House against any attempt to too rapidly place the Maori race on equality with the pakeha. The Hon. Dr. Pomare (Western Maori) said he could not understand the arguments advanced relative to native lande. Surely the lands confiscated in the past were sufficient to pay taxation for all the natives. The trouble was that those who were so keen to get the remaining native land taxed were really most concerned in an endeavour to obtain that land for themselves. Complaint had been made that the Maoris were not efficient farmers, and therefore it -was argued the land should be taken away. He pointed out that the Chinaman could get more out of an acre of ground than the pakeha, but would members agree that for that reason the land should be taken from the pakeha and given to the Chinese. The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, Leader of the Opposition, said the main requirement of the country to-day was increased production, and to gain that transport facilities were necessary. A istrict cut off from communication ith the rest of the country, such as the ast Coast, should have first consideraion. Replying to statements concernig native linds, Mr. Mac Donald said ie work done by two Native Ministers, ir James Carroll and Sir William [erriee, had been as beneficent for the ative owners as was humanly possible. The motion was eventually carried, nd the bill was passed through all tages unamended. The House rose at 12.39 a.m.