WAITANGI EXPENDITURE

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1934, Page 4

WAITANGI EXPENDITURE

LEGION LEADER PROTESTS. “LAVISH USE OF PUBLIC MONEY.* TIME CONSIDERED INOPPORTUNE. — J- ■ “REPORTS OF EXTRAVAGANCES.” By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night Strong exception to the expenditure of so much public money on the celebrations at Waitangi was taken by Dr. Campbell Begg, leader of the New Zealand Legion, at a meeting of the national executive of the Legion to-night “I must refer, however reluctantly,” said Dr. Begg, “to something which must jar on the whole national conscience—the public money now being expended in the celebrations at Waitangi. The splendid gift made by our GovernorGeneral to the nation has evoked the well deserved admiration and gratitude of people throughout New Zealand. The gift would, however, have been none the less appreciated if the Government had realised that the present time is inopportune for the expenditure of a large sum of public money in connection with this splendid and permanent -gift. The developmental work could have been well postponed until better times.

"As for the present celebrations, if 1934 had been the centenary or some such definite point they would have been in order as a means of cementing friendship with the Maori race and stimulating the people by a reminder of their historical background or the work of the pioneers. This is no time, however, for lavish expenditure of public money on festivities of this nature. I feel sure that the reports of special trains and other extravagances and the exodus of almost all members of the Cabinet from their duties to take part in these .celel brations will be looked on with regret and disapproval by a large section of the public.”