WILL COST £20,000.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 470, 3 June 1932, Page 8

WILL COST £20,000.

Size of Ottawa Delegation C 7 iticised. PROTEST TO GOVERNMENT. Criticising the size of the Ottawa delegation last ni£ht, members of the Council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce declared that the cost would be not less than £20,000. It was also declared that it was wrong that the three most important Ministers should be out of the country during such a trying time. Mr A. O. Wilkinson, chairman, said* that the Canterbury Chamber, as strongly as the Associated Chambers, had for §onie time stressed the need for the strictest economy in the expenditure of public funds. The expenses of the delegation, he thought, would be not less than £20,000. It was a grave state of affairs that the Government could not find one man who could do the necessary business. A protest should be made against the Minister of Employment being absent at this particular time. He thought that the chamber should discuss the position. “I hope you are a long way out when you quote £20,000 as the expense of the delegation,” said Mr T. N. Gibbs. There was talk, he continued, of the heads of the Treasury and the Customs Department going, too. He thought some protest should go forward from the chamber. Reflection on Democracy. Mr C. P. Agar said that the question of policy was also important. The subject of exchange might be held up with the three most important Ministers away. An adviser should go to Ottawa from the Associated Chambers. Mr A. O. Wilkinson: That matter will come up in committee. Mr Agar said that he thcnxght £20,00C would not be far short of the sum that would be spent. It was a great reflection cn the country that it took three men to do one man’s job. Fie moved that, in view of the existing conditions and the need for economy. Cabinet be asked to reconsider the number of Ministers to go forward to Ottawa at the public expense.

Mr V. E. Hamilton seconded the motion. He had no hesitation in doing so in view of the fact that the teaching profession was being cut down and that economy was so vitally necessary The motion was carried without further discussion.