COST OF A STONEWALL.

Southland Times, Issue 21560, 25 November 1931, Page 3

COST OF A STONEWALL.

To the Editor.

Sir.—Through the courtesy of your correspondence column I should like to challenge Mr McChesney to justify his statement that the ‘Labour Party stonewall’ during the Emergency Session cost the country more than £BOO a day. While some know the statement to be a deliberate attempt to discredit the Labour Party and incidentally the Labour candidate for Invercargill others unfortunately give it credence and I think that Mr McChesney should justify his assertion. The origin of it appeared in your issue of March 31 last when you published Mr Forbes’ statement that the cost of the emergency session to date was £15,339 or £BO7 per day. Included in the total cost were: £ Printing and stationery 3353 Salaries including Bellamy’s Railway concessions and travelling expenses of members 1937 Honoraria of and allowances to members and officers 2473 Rent of buildings 1575 Fuel light etc., 717 Cleaning etc. 407 Depreciation of furniture and fittings 366 Postage, telegrams, telephone and newspapers 359 Between the items included and the total cost there is a difference of £lBO2. How is that accounted for? Salaries and honoraria are, I believe, paid monthly and should not be included in the above list white it is being used to show how much the Labour Party cost the country. Enlightment would be appreciated on such items as railway concessions, rent, fuel, and cleaning and especially on ‘depreciation of furniture and fittings £366’ in as far as they affect the cost compiled by Labour members while exercising their rights in challenging clauses, a right which Mr McChesney intimated last night he would exercise if returned to Parliament.- —I am etc.., ELECTOR.

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