CURIOUS ALLOCATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 22, 26 January 1934, Page 6

CURIOUS ALLOCATIONS.

Of the total just allocated from art union profits to various objects throughout New Zealand, the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club receives £3000 to assist in repairing earthquake damage to its new building; the Fendalton (Christchurch) Tennis and Croquet Club is given £1000, "to liquidate bank overdraft and debentures, conditional on certain other liabilities being reduced by not less than £300"; and for "relief of distress" Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin are to get £1000 between them. The division is slightly reminiscent of Falstaff's bill for refreshment —5/8 worth of sack to a ha'porth of bread. The next largest denomination in the allocations is £500, and one of these sums is given to the United Fire Brigades' Association for conference expenses. Would any great harm be done if the lire Brigades Conference was dropped -for a year? This item, however, will attract much less attention than the other two, and especially the grant of £3000 to the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. The earthquake was three years ago, since when a great deal of has been done. It will be said in defence of the grant that it will provide employment for a number of men, but is not Hawke's Bay itself able to do this ? Three or six months ago there would have been less objection to the grant, but there has lately been a sensational rise in wool prices, and no part will benefit by this more than Hawke's Bay, which is so largely a sheep-raising district. There, as elsewhere, the sheep farmer is a pillar of racing. The racing clubs seem to be popular with the Government; witness recent rebates in taxes. Then what is the reason for granting £1000 to a suburban tennis club in Christchurch 1 The reasons for these allocations may be better than one imagines; whatever they are, they should be stated. The bare announcement is calculated to irritate public feeling, and at a time like this the Government should be particularly careful not to do anything that will have this effect. It should tell the public exactly why these grants have been made.