QUAKE-DAMAGED ROADS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 August 1930, Page 12

QUAKE-DAMAGED ROADS

MR. FORBES’ REBUKE

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WELLINGTON, August 8.

Criticism regarding expenditure by the Highways Board on roads affected by the big earthquake last year, was replied to by Mr. Forbes in the House to-day. Mr. Forbes said he had noticed that one or two resolutions had been passed on the subject and he considered the people who had done so showed a very narrow and selfish spirit. He proceeded to show the actual position in. regard to expenditure from the Highways fund on repairs necessitated by the earthquake. The amount from Government expenditure revenue account, he said, was £48,335; from Public Works Fund £24,877, and the amount authorised £13,737, a total of £86,950. Public subscriptions amounted to about £150,000 and the amount the Highways fund was called on to bear was £106,917.

“Was not that fair contribution,” he asked, “in a time of national disaster, when roads in the affected area had been destroyed to a certain extent? Was it not a fair thing for the Highways Board to do their share?” He added that the burden the Government would have to carry in regard to earthquake districts, was not finished by any means, for it would still have to give assistance where necessary. When local_ bodies and motorists’ associations —he would not say motorists, for the associations were not always representative of motorists —passed such resolutions as he had referred to, he thought they were totally out of step with the rest of the country. Mr. Ansell: Are you not going to keep the promise made in regard to it?

Mr. Forbes: I have made no promise. If you can show me any promise I have made in regard to it I will be pleased to carry it out. He repeated that the resolutions entirely lacked the sympathy of the people of New Zealand. (Hear, hear).

ROADS IN BACKBLOCKS.

ALLOCATION OF EXPENSES-

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WELLINGTON, August 8

To give point to his reply to criticism of the distribution of expenditure on roads in outlying districts, last year, the Prime Minister produced in the House, to-day, a list showing the actual amounts spent in various electorates and gave an analysis on the'.political party basis. Not one word of approval’of the expenditure on highways and backblock roads, said Mr. Forbes, had been heard from the very members one would have expeced it from. He read a long list of electorates which he declared had been benefited by moneys spent on roads to give access to outlying districts. Of the total sum, 20 per cent, was spent in the Waimarino electorate, 17 per cent, in the Bay of Islands districts, and 15 per cent, in Westland. Mr. A. M. Samuel: Is this a bid for votes?

Mr. Forbes: It has been said there has not been a fair distribution of public moneys on these roads, and this analysis has been got out to show how various electorates have received amounts for expenditure. It is rather interesting to note that electorates represented by the United Party got £7280, Reform £15,118, and Labour electorates £20,424. Reform members: “Ah!” (Laughter). Mr. Forbes added that the elecorates represented by Independents and the Country Party member got £11,262, “And yet,” he said, “referring to Independents, they all marched solemnly into the lobby to vote against the Government for trying to assist backblocks districts. One would expect some acknowledgment of gratitude, because tho Government had tried to do its best.”

Mr. Samuel: ' Does the Prime Minister suggest a system of payment by votes?

The Prime Minister: I’m meeting some of the criticisms and insinuations that have been’ made. I think those who take a fair-minded view of the sitution will admit that so far as expenditure of public money is concerned, no charge can be made against any Minister and that no consideration of one party or another entered into the matter. There was no suggestion of political party colour.