State Expenditure

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21227, 16 October 1943, Page 4

State Expenditure

Sir, —“Taxpayer” moans about the £30,000 spent in honouring one of our many war heroes. This is to be expected for "the poor are always with us” and is but the forerunner of grudged repatriation costs when and ns they occur. That honour, .paid to a race and to individuals of that race, does but reflect honour on those responsible for its bestowal, even though the honour was overdue, as I am"told and quite believe, that every Maori at the front deserves a V.C. ancl according to reports this is apparent. That the Government of the day saw fit to make this investiture a pageant of the congratulations of many stands to its credit and may the older Maori in his wisdom teach the boys on their return the value of authority and regimentation, in the endeavour to implement some ol those great principles for which so many have .paid in service, sacrifice, and sorrow. Regarding the state ol bankruntey complained of by ‘ Taxpayer,"" New Zealand was bankrupt when it could not repay the money borrowed to finance the Maori wats. and let him take heart in the knowledge that in toto. he will never be taxed beyincl his ability •to pay, ioi the one thing we have learned since the day of King John is how to make taxation collectable. JAS. MORRISON.

Sir.—' “Taxpayer,” like many others who are politically opposed to the Labour Government, is quite convinced that anything it does must be wrong. Is it the war tax he is objecting to? Surely this is a small price "to pay for protection from Nazi domination. He is most emphatic that during the first five years of office Labour politicians practically made the country bankrupt. True, we had just over £40,000,000 sterling fund m London, but we also had 57,246 unemployed in New Zealand, hardly the tvpe of prosperity most of us desired. True, there was a run on London funds in 1939, but not by the Government. However, this was stopped in time and since that date London funds have been built up until they stand at over £30,000,000 to-day. Apart from our war debt, our overseas debt has been reduced by ill,421,000, compared with 1935, Laboiu s first year of office, and New Zealand i.s enjoying a high standard ot life. [ agree with Mr. Fraser that Labou was returned to power with no uncertain voice, in spite of the greatest opposition it has ever had to combat. This must be very disappointing to “Taxpayer. ’ REALIST

Sir —lt. is difficult to find fault, with the letter by “Taxpayer. ’ It is just lo«ic The cost of running the special 0 train from Wellington to heie Suid V about £SOO, Ministers, members of Parliament and Govern ment servants travelling round New Zealand cost the country about wou, 000 a year. A Minister rarely travels alone His .party consists of 10 o more and they put up at a good bote . It is the public who are laigtly u blame. If a bridge is to ) e ( or a foundation stone laid, it inust be done by a Minister. ’ The p iime Minister was brought up Horn Wei Upoton some time ago specially to open the new school, likewise d e Minister of Defence to open the Gai risen Hall. The Minister of Public number plate on the beaches that the U of New Zealand are representatives, etc., _ they do everywhere ff°to say something after a T axpAVER.”

ci r it seems incredible that Taxpayer” 2J5 tew others who have «; nressed their disapproval ol the nui through your columns have not moic tolerance. Surely no honour orent to bestow on such a heio as Lieutenant Ngarimu has proved himcelf to be. It would be interesting to know how many lives were saved, both Maori and pakeha, by *»s ; noble act of sell-sacrifice. No doubt oy his action many a mother and wife were saved the bitter griei that the dreaded telegram brings. 1 tumie Sir Apirana Ngata is to be congratulated on the splendid organisation of lo great a function, also the Government for the help it gave to make the presentation a national affair, and it must have been very gratifying to Sir Apirana Ngata to see both Maori and nakoha put all other interests on one side (o do honour to the parents ot so distinguished a hero as Lieutenant Ngarimu. The petrol and transpot t provided for the public were not fice. This had to be paid for by those who used it, and no one will he the pootci, but 1 should think the richer for haying witnessed such a memorable scen °' F. A. SCRAG.G. llf is only fair to "Taxpayer" to recall his statement: "Lieutenant Ngarimu was posthumously awarded a well-earned V.C. for conduct which was a credit to his country and to the Maori people.’’—Ed. Herald. I