HOW PUBLIC MONEY IS WASTED

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1294, 24 November 1911, Page 6

HOW PUBLIC MONEY IS WASTED

PLAIN SPEAKING BY A COUNTY CHAIRMAN. (By Telegraph.—Snocial CorresDondcnt.l Ekctahuna, November 23. At the statutory meeting of the Eketahuna County Council this week, Mr. J. Daivson was olccted chairman. Somo discussion ensued as to the action of the Public Works Department in turning down the plans of a bridgo prepared by the county overseer. Tho chairman (Mr. Dawson), who is the Government nominee of the Wellington Land Board, said that it was about time that tho County Councils stiffened their backs, and ceased to bo under, tho whip of tho Government Departments. "I could open your eyes," ho continued, "as to tho wasteful expenditure of public money going on, and those responsible want showing up. I have been a contractor for over forty years, and know what I am talking about, and after what I have seen in my travels I think it timo that these follows were exposed." Mr. Dawson added that no decided objection could bo taken to the Government borrowing money, provided that tho money was spent to tho best advantage, but, instead of tho public works costing 34 per cent., they were costing 71 per cent. This kind of thing should be stopped, said the chairman, and it was incumbent on County Councils to say so,. A councillor: "Wc will have an opportunity on the 7th of next month." Concluding a heated speech, tho chairman said that he intended calling a public meeting in the district at an early date, and would exposo tho methods of spending the public money.