SPENDING THE PUBLIC MONEY

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12569, 9 February 1934, Page 4

SPENDING THE PUBLIC MONEY

THE WAITANGI FESTIVITIES. DEFENDED BY MR FORBES. Electric Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND. Last Night. “I am quite convinced that the expenditure incurred was thoroughly well justified and that the outcome of the gathering will be ot lasting benefit to both. ra<t*s and the country generally,” said the Prime Minister when the criticism concerning the money spent on the celebrations at Waitangi this week was brought under his notice. “I doubt if a gathering of such importance has ever taken place in New Zealand, as it has served to focus attention on something that we have been neglecting or at least overlooking.” Mr Forbes said he could not believe anyone who was at the celebrations and saw the friendliness and spirit that they evoked could hold any other opinion. He doubted whether the money could have been spent to a better purpose. The relations between the two peoples had always been good, but he felt the ceremonies had cleared up any feelings that might have been in the minds of the Maori people that the Europeans were not desirous of carrying out their part of the Treaty' of Waitangi. “The gathering at Waitangi provided Mr Coates and myself with the opportunity of addressing all the Maori tribes in New Zealand. We were able to disabuse their minds of any feeling that we were nor going to carry out our policy of assisting them in the development of their lands, or any idea that there was going to he any confiscation of their lands. To my mind it was a very fine thing that we were able to bring them together in such circumstances. ” .

Mr Forbes said the bulk of the < xpenditure went in the employment of unemployed labour and in transport costs, most of which went in the carriage of the Maori tribes m the Government railways. PROTEST BY’ FARMERS “UNNECESSARILY LAVISH EXPENDITURE.” AUCKLAND. February The Auckland Fanners' Union executive unanimously carried the following resolution :—‘‘That while Thiexecutive appreciates the action of the Governor-General in presenting t ! he site of the signing of the Treat c of Waitangi to the nation, it m'A tests against the unnecessarily lavish expenditure upon the Waitangi celebrations at a time when the Government- is complaining of a shortage of funds for many necessary purposes ” Mr J. W. Jones, who lives near Waitangi said that for year" the residents had been without road access, and they had endeavoured vainly to have some sort of an nu xpensiye bridge erected. Now ai. elaborate bridge had been built at the* m. ith of the Tidal Rivei m such a position as to ho of n<> use to settlers, ;.nd to block the river for navigation.