WAITANGI COST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 57, 8 March 1934, Page 11

WAITANGI COST.

MORE CRITICISM. I . ATTITUDE OF GOVERNMENT. ; FARMERS WANT DETAILS. Further criticism of the expenditure on the Waitangi celebrations was voiced by members of the Auckland provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union at the special meeting which concluded yesterday. In response to its previous protest, the executive received a. reply from the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, 6tating that while tlio complaint embodied in the resolution passed had been duly noted, the Government did not agree that the expenditure involved in the celebrations was in any way lavish as described by the executive's motion. Moreover, the Government was Of the opinion that the occasion was well worthy of being marked in a fitting manner.

After a long discussion, it was decided to request from tlio Government particulars of the complete cost of the celebrations, also the complete cost of the Waitangi estate, including the roads made or to be made, both access t.ud internal, and the cost of the bridge, the approaches, and farming improvements.

Mr. J. W. Jones (Bay of Islands) said it was absurd to deny tlio charge of lavish expenditure, becausc, apart from what the Government had spent, large sums had been spent by the natives themselves and largo sums had been lost. The Northern natives were just about bankrupt oil account of WaitangL Their cows had been left, and their cream supplies had dropped to almost nothing. Potatoes had been taken and used in the liui which were required for future supplies. He said he knew of one case where 20 cows had bfen left during tho hui for a girl of 12 and a boy of nine to milk, and the factory had had to return the cream. It was notorious that the native would leave anything for a good time. In the recent instance many had borrowed on their dairy factory cheques for months ahead. Now some had had to retur'i home penniless.