NATIONAL WORKS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 18, 2 November 1935, Page 3

NATIONAL WORKS

IMMEDIATE START INTENDED.

EMPLOYMENT FOR 9500 MEN.

TOTAL EXPENDITURE £8,500,000. (Per Press Association). HELENSVILLE, November 1, Details of a programme of national works, providing employment for about 9500 men at a total cost of approximately £3,500,000, were announced today by the Minister for Finance (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates). The works have been selected by the inter-depart-mental'committee recently appointed to explore avenues' of national re-employ-ment, and have now been approved by the Cabinet for immediate prosecution. All the works will he at standard rates of pay for periods varying from a few months to two or three years. The total cost mentioned includes materials and' other items, in addition to wages costs. “The works are additional to those already provided on the estimates,” said Mr Coates. “They form part of a short-range programme and in arranging the works special attention has been given to the problem of easing unemployment. Contributions of varying amounts have been made from the unemployment funds, but in every case the loan expenditure involved is amply justified by the prospective return. By this means the unemployed will be placed on works of national importance in such a manner that the returns will amply cover the loan charges where loan expenditure is required. This has been made possible by a (rearrangement of the Public Works votes. The net result is a considerable addition to the employment provided by a given amount of loan money.

A Long-range Programme. “Arrangements for certain other works require to be completed before hieing placed on the schedule. The committee is working steadily on a longrange programme covering the next five years. The works included in the programme will be justified by the direct or indirect social benefit.- A complete list of the woaks, together with the estimates as to the scope for employment, possible duration, and cost, is as follows: — Ashburton irrigation scheme, 20,000 acres, 200 men, two yeans; £130,000. Maniototo irrigation scheme, Otago, 40,000 acres, 500 men, four years; £750,000. . Destruction and removal of willows, Hoteo River, three tributaries, North Auckland, 75 men, two years; £21,000. Work being undertaken to reduce flood risks, Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers, Hauraki Plains, 50 men, one year; £BOOO.

Kaipara mud-flat reclamation —- Kukutango area, 670 acres, 40 men, five years; £31,000. Gardner’s area, 360 acres, 40 men, five years. Parakai area, 450 acres, 40 men, five years.

Reclamation of-92 acres of tidal flat, mouth of Hutt River, Wellington, 350 men, two years; £173,000. Formation and metalling of settlement roads, authorised in Estimates for immediate commencement, .1290 men, eight months, average, £165,000. Rotorua-Waikaremoana road widening and metalling, 200 men, two to three years; £109,000. Camps are being erected for tne Rotorua-Waikaremoana road work and somo men will be placed almost immediately. Great South Road, Westland, Weheka to Bruce Bay, . 33 miles with bridges, formation, metalling, 100 men, three yeai - s; £74,000. Mental hospital buildings, various localities, 125 men, one year; £83,000. Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer Springy water supply improvement; 20 men, four months; £2600. , New explosive magazine, Greymouth, five men, three months; £740. Wingatui, 10 men, three months; £I4OO. Taupo wharf, 10 men, three months; £I6OO. Tenders will be invited for the Taupo wharf work almost immediately. Chateau Tongariro, staff quarters, 15 men, eight months; £6OOO. Road to Scoria Flat, 30 men, six months; £3500. Heating service alterations, five men, five months; £I7OO. Morere Springs, new outdoor bath, 12 men, three months; £I2OO. Forestry works, various localities, 500 men, five months; £47,000.

Vacancies in the forestry work are to be filled because of the recent departure of a large number of men for seasonal occupations. Defence works, various localities, 93 men', varying periods; £30,100. Aerodromes and landing grounds throughout the Dominion, 1100 men, two years; £148,000. Elimination of various railway levelcrossings, maximum, 480 men, three years; £360,000. Railway works, including grade easements, recently announced, and Tura-kina-Fordell-Okoia deviation, 1084 men, two years; £572,147. Extension of the small farm scheme in the King Country by . salvaging Crown securities, from 500 to 1500 men; several years; cost not available. Main Highways Board supplementary programme:— Widening deviations, sealing, etc., 26 works throughout New Zealand, 895 men, eight months’ average; £180,665. Arrangements have been made to place 565 men on co-operative contract work as soon as possible, and to invite tenders for works on which the remaining 330 men will be placed. Karamea. flood protection scheme, 120 men, three years; £50,000.