A GRIEVANCE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 32, 7 August 1923, Page 7

A GRIEVANCE

NO CABINET MINISTER FOR WELLINGTON

"MAY BE A COINCIDENCE"

NORTH AND SOUTH ISLAND

.QUESTION.

"It may be a coincidence, but Wellington has no representative in the Ministry." These remarks were made by Mr. E. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) in the House of Representatives yesterday, when a town v. country discussion was developing in regard to educational expenditure. Some members had been saying that if all the demands made by Wellington -were granted, then there would be nothing left for some of the other places, particularly the country districts. Mr. Wright took up the cudgels for Wellington, which city, he pointed out, had been neglected in the past, and only wanted what was its fair due now".

"Some members have the idea that Wellington is always wanting sometiling," declared Mr. Wright, "but that is not so. In the past Wellington has been neglected. I don't why it is, but Wellington has no representative in the Ministry. That may be a coincidence, but it is the case." The Prime Minister: "What about Sir Francis Bell?" Mr. Wright: "He is in the Upper House, and I do not think that a Minister in the Upper House is as good as one in the Lower House, because he does not have to fase the electors." Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central): "We will put that right." "SOMEWHAT ODD." Mr.'Wright: "There are four Auckland members in the Cabinet now, and they hold between them all the principal portfolios. The eyes of the portfolios — Finance, Postmaster-General, Public Works, and Internal Affairs— are in the hands of the Auckland representatives. I am not suggesting- that that has anything to do with it, but it is somewhat odd that a great deal of public money is spent in Auckland. I am not complaining—(laughter)—but I am only asking that we' get our fair share, and that if we cannot get all that the rich man gets, that we get some small crumbs that fall from his table."

"No doubt a city like Wellington should have a representative in the Cabinet," remarked Mr. G. Forbes (Hurunui). "That is a reasonable cause of complaint, but that is a matter between Sir John Luke and Mr. Wright. I think they could toss between them to see who should take the position. But what do we get in the South? That is the question I would like to ask. The South Island is hardly represented in the Cabinet' at all now. If Wellington can only ask for the crumb that falls from the Aucklanders' table, what about the South Island? We don't even see a crumb. (Laughter.) Ido not know what the country districts in the North Island get, but the country districts in the South Island have a good, deal of cause to complain." Mr. Wright: i'You have four in the Cabinet."

Mr. Forbes: "But they have no money to spend. (Laughter.) We recognise that the Ministers who hold the spending portfolios' in a Cabinet hold a strong position. But the South Island has a very definite cause of complaint. It used to have another Minister, but through some difference of opinion with" the electors we Tost him, and the result is that we have one less to bring argument to, bear in connection with the expenditure' of money in the South Island."

The Prime Minister stated that he regretted that the question of town v. country had arisen. No one could say that Mr. Wright had not spoken jocularly, but the remarks did not appear that way in Hansard, and that was why it was necesarsy to correct them. There had 'been reference to the number of Ministers in the Cabinet. In Sir Francis Bell, Wellington had a very influential member of the Cabinet." Mr. Fraser: ''Would you give us one more?"

Mr. Massey: "Would the hon. member like to come in?"

Mr. Fraser: "When yon have vacated it." (Laughter.) Mr. Massey: "People down on the wharf who voted for me have told me that Mr. Peter Fraser should be Minister of Railways. (Laughter.) Then the Government would be quite safe for many a long year to come." , Mr. Fraeer: "Sir John Luke will do " (Laughter.) ■"GOVERNMENT DOES ITS BEST." The Prime Minister said that the Government did its best to distribute moneys fairly, and he thought it • had been fairly successful. To-day over £400,000 a year was being spent on education, compared with £100.000 annually before the war. It was unnecessary for him to speak in defence of Auckland, which had never had a proper university Building. It should not be forgotten that the population of the Auckland province had increased enormously iii the last few years, and was nowonly about one-third short of the total population of the Dominion. As far as "Wellington was concerned, he thought the Government had done everything possible iii the way of educational expenditure. •He did not think the other cities had any reason to complain either. A sum of £25,000 had been voted by Cabinet for a Dental School in Dunedin, and £75,000 had also been voted for the flood damage in Otagb. As for Canterbury, what about the £40.000 voted for a building in Mr. Forties's electorate ? Mr. Forbes: "Where was that?" Mr. Massey : "At Hanmer. That public building is for the benefit of the whole country." Mr. Wilford: "I suppose the member for ptaki would get credit for the extension of the mental hospital 'at Porirua." (Laughter.) Mr. Massey: "In a comparison like that the hon. member is unfortunate." As far as education is concerned, tha principle acted on was that wherever tli ere were nine children in a district they were entitled to a school.