MINISTER IN REPLY

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 52, 2 March 1934, Page 8

MINISTER IN REPLY

The allegations made by Mr. J. H. Furniss, president of the Waikato branch, of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, concerning the invitations sent out in connection, with the Waitangi celebrations, and the cost of the gather? ing were commented upon today by the Minister of Finance (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates)\ .. . Mr. Coates said that the invitations to members of the local bodies in the district had been confined to the chairmen and not'to evory member. A special invitation had been sent to Captain H. M. Rushworth, M.P. The Minister also stated that Mr. ! Furniss's estimate of £100,000 as the cost pf the celebrations was absolutely unfounded. Mr. Coates pointed out that the tribes of tho North Auckland district- had acted as hosts to the visiting tribes, and had carried out all the work in connection with the camp, supplying the labour free. They had also attended to the cooking. In addition Ito that they had found SO beef cattle, 50 pigs, and 1000 poultry, while the Maoris from all over the North Island, had contributed 200 tons of potatoes. The northern tribes had also found £ 700 in cash by making a levy on their milk cheques. The Maoris had also been required to pay a portion of tho i transport charges. For instance, the • Otaki Maoris had been required to.find £2 each towards the cost of their trip. A special contract had been made with the Railways Department for the conveyance of the representatives of the different tribes to the scene of the celebrations. "Tho actual cost to date," said Mr. Coates, "is £5650. This does not take into consideration the cost of the Parliamentary party, but it has to bo remembered also that certain amounts included in the £8650 are recoverable in various ways. It will thus be seen that Mr. Furniss has been badly misinformed."