MONEY FOR ELECTORATES

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1930, Page 11

MONEY FOR ELECTORATES

NO POLITICAL PARTY COLOUR PREMIER’S REPLY TO INSINUATION LABOUR SCORES IN ROAD GRANTS. (By Wire —Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. To give' point to his reply to criticism of the distribution of expenditure on roads in outlying districts last year, the Prime Minister, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, produced in the House of Representatives to-day a list showing the actual amounts spent in various electorates. He gave an analysis on a political party basis. Not one word of approval of the expenditure on highways and backblocks roads, said Mr. Forbes, had been heard from the very members from whom one would have expected it., He read a long list of electorates which he declared had been benefited by money spent on roads to give access to outlying districts. Of the total sum 20 per cent, was spent in the Waimarino electorate, 17r per cent, in the Bay of Island? district, and 15 per>cent. in Westland. Mr. A. M. Samuel: Is this a bid for votes ?

Mr. Forbes: It has been said there has not been, fair distribution of public money on these roads, and this analysis has been compiled to show how various electorates have received amounts for expenditure. It is rather interesting to note that electorates represented by .the United Party received £7280,, Reform electorates £15.118, and Labour £20,424.” , ' Reform members: “Ah!” (Laughter.). Mr. Forbes added that the electorates represented by Independents and. the Country Party ’member ... received £11,202. “And yet,” he said, referring to, the Independents, “they all marched solemnly into the lobbies to vote against the Government for trying to assist the hack blocks districts! One would expect some acknowledgment of gratitude because the Government had tried to do its best.” Mr. Samuel: Does the Prime Minister suggest a system of payment by votes?” :“The Prime Minister is meeting some of the criticisms and insuinations that have been made,” replied Mr. Forbes. “I think those who take a fair-minded new of the situation will admit that so far as expenditure of public money is concerned no charge can be made against any Minister, and that no consideration of one party or another, has entered into the matter. There was no suggestion of political party colour.”