REQUESTS TO MINISTERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 June 1937, Page 4

REQUESTS TO MINISTERS

HAWKE’S BAY ALLEGATIONS. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] NAPIER, June 7. A reference by the Hon. W. E. Barnard. Speaker of the House- of Representatives, to political propaganda during a conference of the Hawke’s Bay local bodies, in Napier on Saturday, drew sharp comment from members of the Hawke’s Bay County Council, to-day. The action of the Acting Minister for Labour, Hon. P. C. Webb, in granting the requests of two deputations heard in camera, when the most he offered the remaining local bodies in open conference was that their representations wmuld go before the Cabinet, was also criticised. That two local bodies, the Napier Harbour Board and the Taradale Town Board had met with success when they had approached the Minister in camera, was mentioned by Mr. C. Lassen, “Those who had the ear of the member for Napier knew what to do to get what they wanted, but the others had to meet the Minister in the open,’’ he said. “When a letter from the county council was under consideration at the conference, leference was made by Mr. Barnard to ‘political propaganda.’ ” “It is a pity that personal and political elements have come into the matter,” said Mr. C. C. Smith, “but I take it we have got nothing definite from the Government on our - proposals. if that is the case, 1 take it that it is no use going into the matter any' further just now.”