PLUNKET GRANT

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 48, 20 November 1930, Page 10

PLUNKET GRANT

Mr. Stallworthy Explains

' NO CUT IN SUBSIDY

The Government grant to the Plunket Society and the suggestion that it was intended to reduce the subsidy forms the subject of a letter ttf the editor from the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, Minister of Health. Mr. Stallworthy writes:— , “In your editorial columns this morning you refer to my words of commendation of the noble work of the. Plunket Society. Then you add that it. seems rude to recall that Mr._ Stallworthy’s department cut down this year’s grant to the society by £5315, and it was only reinstated in the Supplementary Estimates after pressure had been brought to bear on the Government. “This is not a statement of fact, and as I am sure you would not knowingly do an injustice, and, moreover, because it is entirely desirable-to keep the national work the’Plunket Society is doing above party politics, I should be grateful if you would make the necessary correction. No cut of £5315 was made by the department in this year’s grant to the society, and consequently no reinstatement was made as a result of pressure brought to bear on the Government The vote to the society was divided between the Main and Supplementary Estimates pending confidential conversations between the society and myself as to what adjustments could be made without sacrifice of efficiency in .the event of the financial position being such as to compel all-round subsidy reductions. In framing the estimates this was the danger that had to be faced. It was never proposed to reduce the Plunket subsidy.”