PUBLIC' WORKS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 9, 8 December 1937, Page 8

PUBLIC' WORKS

FILM OF MACHINERY. PROTEST IN HOUSE.(Bv Telegraph.—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 8. Great curiosity was shown by the Opposition members in the House of Representatives last night over finding among the Public A\ orks Department’s votes in the Supplementary Estimates an item, “Cinematograph Film, £400.” Their surprised questions caused Hon. R. Semple (Minister of Public Works) to explain that it would be used to show the department’s works and - the modern machinery it used. Mr W. J. Poison protested against the taxpayers’ money being used in a way which would mislead many people. They would see a lot of wonderful, costly, and extravagant machinery working, and would he induced to support the expenditure. No doubt this department was doing good work, but to use the public money to provide a form of entertainment for those who could not analyse the position, “well,” added Mr Poison, “I don’t think it good cricket. I am not suggesting it, but if there is a picture of a machine hard at work it might create the impression with persons not up to these things that the department is doing wonderful work.” '■ Labour members: So it is! Hon. F. Langstone (Minister of Publicity) remarked that a lot of these films would be shown outside New Zealand, and none, of these people could vote—even for the member for Stratford.

Mr Poison retorted that similar machinery was working in, other parts of the world, and the film would he simply an instrument for political propaganda. “He has discovered a mare’s nest.” declared Mr Semple, who assured the House that he had not the idea ' of propaganda, hut just to produce a simple film showing modern methods' of construction. There was not one extravagant machine. Eight or nine months’ experience showed that in that time these machines had paid for themselves, and they had seven years left of useful life. “The Labour Government did not invent the machine,” concluded Mr Semple. “It simply had brains enough to use it.” .