“HUSH-HUSH” POLICY

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11785, 22 March 1924, Page 6

“HUSH-HUSH” POLICY

CONTROL OF EXHIBITION “TOO MANY PEOPLE DABBLING,” MR TILLETT’S CHARGES. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association LONDON, March 20. Mr Ben Tiliett, M.P. (Lab.) a former member of the Empire Exhibition Management Committee, in the oourse of criticisms in the House of Commons, declared that irresponsible persons had been given control and liad formed a Kush-liusli bureaucracy. Large sums had been voted without supplying details of any to the committee. The names of high-placed personages had been used to silence inquiries. What had gone on was a form of corruption which was an insult to the Throne itself. He doubted if the Indian Pavilion would be ready even by July or Auigust.

£12,000,000 SPENT. Mr J. H. Thomas, Colonial Secretary, though denying the charges of unreadiness, admitted that a few weeks ago things did not run smoothly. There had been too many people dabbling in the show, and it became necessary to tell a few people that the Exhibition, on which £12,000,000 had been spent, had to be made a success. Mr Thomas mentioned that the Duke of Devonshire, apart from his services as chairman, bad personally guaranteed the Exhibition to the extent of £4OO,OCX}.

BUSINESSJfIETHODS COMMONS SHOULD INSIST. BLUNDERS ADMITTED. Rente-’* Telegram LONDON, March 20. Mr Tiliett demanded, regarding the Empire Exhibition, that the Govern ment should lay on the table schemes for organisation, maintenance payments, and authority and responsibility. Ho declared that the House ought not to venture another cent until a guarantee of something like collective business management was forthcoming. He also complained of the absence of a real effort to deal with the question- of accommodation. “NOW GOING SMOOTHLY.” Mr Thomas did not attempt to justify the blunders in the early stages. He had visited the Exhibition recently with representatives of the whole of the dominions. While the latter had complained in the old days, they were united in saying that things were now going smoothly. As regards Accommodation, he gav® the assurance that the Government was doing its duty in attending to the protection and help of citizens like the coloured races. The Government was also seeing to it that the large numbers of overseas children coming for educational purposes were properly housed and treated, while large numbers of men and women on different committees were organising schemes and plans to deal with the situation generally. OPENING ON SUNDAY ILLEGAL UNDER ACT 1671. Rente-'* T»l«irram LONDON, March 20. The question of openinlg the grounds of the Exhibition on Sundays, which has been the subject of many deputations to the Government, was raised in the House of Commons by Sir Patrick Hastings, Attorney-General, who stat ed that under a certain Acrt of 1671 Sunday opening was illegal, if a charge was made for admission. CHANCE IN CONTROL AUSTRALIA’S DEMAND. Reuter’s Televram LONDON, March 20. Sir Travers Clarke has been appointed chief administrative officer of .the Empire Exhibition, resigning the de-puty-chairmanship of the board. It is understood that the Australian Exhibition Advisory Council intends to request the Central Council to grant direct separate representation thereon. Sir James Allen at present represents all the dominions.