DOMINANT AUCKLAND.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160794, 30 October 1920, Page 5

DOMINANT AUCKLAND.

MONEY AND MINISTERS PROTEST BY MEMBER FOR WANGANUI. (By Telegraph—Special to “Herald.”) WELLINGTON, October 29. It was dolefully admitted by the member for Wanganui to-night, when discussing the Public Works Statement, that Auckland comes an easy first, not only in public wotks grants,, but in its domination of the Ministry and the House The five road districts in the Auckland, province are Wha-ngarei, Auckland, lauranga, Gisborne and Taumaranui, and they had secured <£789,098 in road grants, leaving .£852,681 for the rest of New Zealand, votes for reads for land settlement in these districts totalled double the amount available for the remainder of New Zealand. It was a startling fact, but the Auckland district had secured a great deal more than its fair share ot votes and also representation in the Ministry. Auckland thus contro’lc.l the bulk of the State spending departments,, while eight select committees of the House had Auckland chairmen. Mr Speaker and the two Government 'Whips were also Aucklanders. Til's influence of the North seemed too strong to break, but the Minister of vVovks should remember it was his duty to spend public money fairly throughout the Dominion, “I do not want to say that a largo expenditure should rot be incurred in the Auckland province,” remarked Mr Wilford, leader of the Opposition. “I admit right away that in Rotorua and the Jung Country the extension of railway communication is necessary, but no 'man is long in this House without finding out that Auckland has a distinct pull over the rest ot New Zealand.” He suggested that the only equitable way to allocate public works votes was by means of a non-political I card. Dr Newman put the current grievance mto a phrase; Auckland was getting 12a 6d in the pound, and the rest of New Zealand 7s <’d in the pound, and as he was one cf th: seven and sixers (laughter) he didn’t like it. and another bad point was that the Auckland voles were overwent, but the rest of New Zealand failed to get all its votes expende 1.