DEFENCE WORKS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 70, 4 January 1936, Page 6

DEFENCE WORKS.

EMPLOMENT OF LABOUR. VIEWS OF HON. R. SEMPLE. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. The view that employment of Public Works Department labour on naval and aerial defence works tfas justified, and would probably bo continued by the Labour Government, was expressed yesterday by the Minister for Public Works, tlie Hon. R. Semple, who is on a short visit to Auckland. During the day, Mr Semple visited the Hobsonville air base and the area at Kauri Point, where works for the naval defence system are being carried out. He hopes to visit the Devonport naval base during a future visit to Auckland. The works now iiv progress had yet to be fully considered by the Cabinet, Mr Semple said, but lie personally was impressed by their usefulness. It was self evident that the Dominion had to have some form of defence system, and to his mind an efficient air force and naval division were the most important requirements. Consequently the money spent in providing adequate facilities for these two services was providing a national asset, and as the works under way or planned for early commencement offered employment to a large proportion of civilian labour they were well worth while.