EXPENSES OF WAITANGI

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21084, 8 February 1934, Page 8

EXPENSES OF WAITANGI

Head of N.Z. Legion

Objects TIME CONSIDERED INOPPORTUNE | (PHESB ASSOCIATION TELEGEAM.) WELLINGTON,, February 7. Strong exception to the expenditure of so much public money on the present celebrations at Waitangi was taken by Dr. Campbell Begg, leader of the New Zealand Legion, at a meeting of the national executive to-night. "I must refer, however reluctantly." said Dr. Begg, "to something which must jar on the whole national conscience—the public money now being expended on the celebrations at Waitangi. The splendid gift made to the nation by our Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) has evoked well-deserved admiration and the gratitude of the people throughout New Zealand. The gift would, however, have been none the less appreciated if the Government had realised that the present time is inopportune for the expenditure of a large sum of public money in connexion with this splendid and permanent gift. Developmental work could have been well postponed until better times. As for the present celebrations, if 1934 had been the centenary or some such definite point, they would have been in order as a means of cementing friendship with the Maori race ana [ stimulating the people by a reI minder of their historical background and on the work of the I pioneers. j "This is no time, however, for lavish expenditure of public money on festivities of this nature. I feel sure that the reports of special trains and other extravagances and the exodus of almost all the members of the Cabinet from their duties to take part in these celebrations will be looked on with regret and disapproval by a large section of the public."