MOSCOW LEGATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25589, 17 July 1944, Page 4

MOSCOW LEGATION

GOVERNMENT EXTRAVAGANCE MR HOLLAND REPEATS CHARGE (PA) CHRISTCHURCH, July 16. “ Mr Sullivan cannot evade the issue with the petty suggestion that I am trying to discourage subscriptions to the War Loan,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr S. G. Holland, this evening, in reply to the Acting-Prime Minister on the question of the contemplated furniture order for the New Zealand Legation at Moscow. “I do not propose to enter into an argument with Mr Sullivan.” Mr Holland added, “but I reaffirm that when the Government in difficult times solicits funds from the public it is under an obligation to be prudent in its own expenditure. Instead it is repeatedly extravagant, and this example is an outrage to public feeling. If the Moscow Legation cannot be opened without such expenditure, it should not be opened at all. “I am informed that the furniture trade is working at highVpressure to cope with civilian orders for standardised furniture, much of which is urgently needed by our returned servicejnen who wish to set up homes for themselves. Now the Government is asking the manufacturers to divert their limited staffs® and materials to make specialised lines, which are prohibited for other people and which will cost thousands of pounds. I am informed that the futniture will have to be made and finished in New Zealand and then dismantled for transport to Russia, and that the packing and freight alone will cost hundreds of pounds.

“As a public, man I would be failing in my duty’ if I did not make an emphatic protest, against such unwarranted expenditure, particularly at this time,” Mr Holland concluded.