“GROSSLY INACCURATE”

Hawera Star, Volume L, 8 April 1931, Page 4

“GROSSLY INACCURATE”

STATEMENT OF HOUSE COST ATTACK BY LABOUR. LEADER. ESTIMATE OF PRIME MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 7. Criticism of the statement made by the Prime Minister regarding the expense of the present session of Parliament was expressed by Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, at the Labour conference to-day. “On March 30 a deliberately misleading statement was given the Press by the Prime Minister regarding the extra cost to the country or .the special session,” Mr. Holland said. “Ip this statement Mr. Forbes included the salaries of members and officers, of Parliament and other items of expense which go on whether the House is in session or recess. He even included depreciation of the furniture as an extra duo to the holding of the session. “This, grossly inaccurate, statement was' made clearly for the purpose of discrediting the Labour Party in opposition to the wage reductions,” said Mr. Holland.

The cpst of the present emergency session of Parliament to date had amounted to £15,339, or £BO7 per day\ stated 1 the Prime Minister in quoting Treasury figures in the House of Representatives on. March 30. Mr. Forbes added that not one single item of business had been transacted. Included in the total cost was £3353 for printing and stationery, £3070 for salaries (including Bellamy’s), £1937 for railway concessions and travelling expenses to members, £2473 in respect to the honoraria of and allowances to members and officers, £1575 for rent of buildings, £717 for fuel, light, etc., £407 for cleaning, £366 for depreciation on furniture and fittings, and £359 for postages, telegrams, telephones and newspapers.