ALLOCATION FOR MAORI HOUSE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23330, 16 May 1941, Page 12

ALLOCATION FOR MAORI HOUSE

Sir,—lt is futile to continue arguing with Mr Parlane. He twists everything one says, accepts no explanation or denial, puts words into one’s mouth that were never said, and continues crying like a spoilt child for something that he cannot have. One question to Mr Parlane: If he is not prepared to spend money on the erection and protection of the Maori House, then it must remain in store. What will his Government which made the gift have to say to that?— Yours, etc., E. H. ANDREWS. May 15, 1941. Sir,—Mr E. Parlane suggests to you that it was a pity that you did not print the items I gave when refuting the allegation that the Citizen council of 1935-38 kept rates down by transferring £72,000 taken from the Municipal Electricity Department, and that the scheme of payment was a subterfuge. No greater mis-statement has ever been made, but Mr Parlane’s most enthusiastic admirer would not credit him with a knowledge of the city’s finances. This canard was freely circulated in 1938 and is revived now. I very much regret trespassing on ypiir space when space is so restricted, but I would like to give the details. The £72,000 Cr. Parlane and his friends talk about include such items as £12,500 unemployment loan of August 5,1929, and £BOOO for Cathedral square women’s conveniences in the same year, transferred when the Hon. D. G, Sullivan was chairman of the fin- ' ance committee. Mr Sullivan’s scheme of repayment was to raise the overhead contribution from the department by an amount which was devoted to loan repayment. The Citizen council did transfer the following in 1936: Memorial hall, Papanui, £1547; land for refuse tip, £1500; Gloucester street, £1450; Worcester street, £11,000; Oppwa library. £964; Lyndhurst reserve, £500; testing station, £6558; Summit road, £900; aerodrome, Hereford street bridge, widening Oxford terrace, replacement of Cashel street conveniences, £43,265. Deducting repayments made, there was a balance on March 31. 1938, of £72,094. The council on April 26, 1938, on the recommendation of the finance committee approved a scheme to repay this at the rate; of £4OOO per annum by keening on Mr Sullivan’s offset of £ISOO a year from overhead contribution, and £2500 from rates. The Labour council, in 1938, did not act on that undertaking. If the desire burns so strongly with Mr Parlane that the people should know the truth, why does he hot emphasise that Labour councils transferred straight to the general account • £18,740 on March 31. 1930; £15,000 in relief of rates in 1933: £9842 in 1934, not to meintion £14.000 for the bath site, and omitting altogether £15.000 for distress relief— transfers. . by Labour, councils;— Yours, etc.;" " ''; ' :• M. E. LYONS; May 19,; 1941,