COST OF OVERSEA DELEGATIONS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22196, 13 September 1937, Page 6

COST OF OVERSEA DELEGATIONS

TO THE EDITOB OF THIS I'BXSS. Sir,—On Friday last Mr S. G. Holland. M.P., gave notice of several very pointed questions, the purpose of which was to ascertain the cost of the Imperial jaunts which have been enjoyed by many lucky delegates and delegations since the Labour Government came into office. The questions are most proper, and are long overdue, and their answers might do something towards ending a form of extravagance in the spending ,of public mrney which cannot possibly be justified. At the same time it should be Said that the Labour Government is not the only sinner in this respect. It is merely carrying on a form of wasteful expenditure which has become tradition in the Liberal and Reform regimes which preceded it, so that the censorship from the Opposition cannot be taken as the outcome of any zealous desire for scrupulous care in the expenditure of public money. It is somewhat marvellous how a spell in Opposition induces a strict moral rectitude about the disbursement of the national funds. When previous governments held power, I frequently raised my voice in your columns, protesting against the extravagance of these useless Imperial pleasure cruises, and urged Labour, then in Opposition, to press for a detailed and exact account of their cost. But Labour did not nove in the matter, perhaps because ,t anticipated its present dqy of sower and glory, and did not wish to mperil its own chance of enjoying hese rich plums of office. From the juerile resentment of the Labour Party it Mr Holland’s questions and the juestion of one Labour member askng how much the Imperial delegations mder the last Government cost, one :an deduce that the Government did lot relish Mr Holland’s questionnaire, ind also that in this matter both jarties are about equally blameworthy. It is to be hoped, however, hat now Mr Holland has raised the [Uestion, the public will be given some , lear estimate of what these delegaions cost; and then against that cost! iCople can set the benefits received.— j fours, etc., SAM SLICK, i September 13, 1937. j