PUBLIC FUNDS
“LOOSE TALK” DEPRECATED RESPONSIBLE TRUSTEESHIP TRIBUTE TO GOVERNMENT Loose talk on the expenditure of public funds was roundly deprecated by the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) yes. terday when replying to a representative deputation which waited on him to urge that the proposed central pier for the new railway bridge, be not erected on the Hutt Road. “I was somewhat concerned about the trend of that public meeting recently, and the very uippant way in which several speakers spoke about the expenditure of public money,” said the Prime Minister. “It occurred to me that it was an illustration of how we lose sight of costs! . . . . I want to say to those speakers that the Government are not chucking money about. Every penny piece is most carefully calculated before it is spent. It is vour money we are responsible for, and ns trustee, I have always carefully investigated -all the possibilities before coining to a conclusion; and the final conclusion lias always been—the ultimate costs to the people of New Zealand. It was disappointing to hear fairlv prominent people talking about the Government as though they think we are only here to chuck money about. Again I say aon’t throw money about. Our schemes are carefully planned and investigated, and we have engineers as capable as those in any other parts of the world. The talk I have referred to is ‘loose talk.’ and it is no credit to our citizens to talk in that way. If they do so it shows mighty little respect for those responsible for expenditure of their money.” Air At. F. Luckie, a member of the deputation, said that no one had made any charge against the Government .of wasting money. The great difficulties the Government were responsible for in handling the finances of the country were appreciated to the fullest extent. Speaking on nehalf of the Wellington Citv Council he could say that no Government in New Zealand had shown greater regard for the essential features of administration where economy could be applied than the present Government.
The Prime Alinister: Thank you
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Bibliographic details
Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 119, 17 February 1928, Page 8
Word Count
351PUBLIC FUNDS Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 119, 17 February 1928, Page 8
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