CONTEMPTIBLE MISREPRESENTATION.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12398, 20 December 1909, Page 5

CONTEMPTIBLE MISREPRESENTATION.

Sir Joseph stated tliat even after it ! had been denied that Ministers «p,'e connected with the company it !:ad been ! stated that members of their nmiliuS' j were shareholders. These .worn a'bso-. j lutely contemptible . misreorisj i .ttions j not worthy of anyone. 1 !?e owhe-- oT I the steamers had seated that (h'.re \\u*,\ not even a company. It was hire a, ■ good many other things tliat tiie Ministers were reported co havi an interest in, and in regard to which there was not a vestige of truth. In 99 out of 100 instances the vote of £2,000 for tho improvement of the river went to the River Trust, which was established for the purpose. Of the £700 half was paid by tho Postal Department foi' mail service, and half by the Lands Department for the purpose of assisting settlers. Previously the Tourist Department paid £400 for a service from Taiimarunui and Pipiriki, biit it was recently discontinued, as from the tourist poinf- of view it was found to be unwarranted, as the steamers Van on specified days to suit the mails. A snbsidy had to be paid. If the present service were not satisfactory the Government would have to put on their) own service or acquire the present sys- < tern. j Mr T. E. Taylor said lie was glad ' to have heard such an emphatic statement on the question of ownership. Ho did not know of any service in New Zealand that - was as ihuch criticised j as the one under discussion. He moved that the vote be reduced by £5. Mr Hogan mentioned that in 1907 a majority of ; members werey in . favour j of Stata ownership of; the service. An . election; had taken place since, but he believed that such was the case-in the present House, and he urged the Government to again go intoS.the question of State ownership. Now that the Premier b^.d assured the Committee that he would insist on a scale of charges being drawn up and endeavour to secure the same treatment for farm labourers, bushmen, .and. roadmen as ' .settlers .got, he (Mr Hogan) could not ! support the amendment, but if no im- ■ provement were effected he would be j prepared to strike out every vote next session. ' i The Prime Minister said lie would'j ...undertake to see if the company would i j draw up a fixed scale of charges, and ihe would also inquire as to whether ' it was desirable, that tlie Government i should acquire the service and report r to the House next session. ■ , j