PUBLIC WORKS DELAY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 71, Issue 6, 18 October 1950, Page 6

PUBLIC WORKS DELAY

EFFECT OF STAFF SHORTAGE SEARCH FOR OVERSEAS ENGINEERS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 17. * New Zealand’s hydro - electric schemes were being designed piecemeal, and no project had been designed completely because of the designer shortage, said the Minister of Works (Mr. W. S. Goosman) in ftie House of Representatives to-day. Mr Goosman said that an increase in staff of about 400 permanent and temporary employees this year was necessary because of the expanding activities of the department. There 1 was still a shortage of engineer-, ing and designing staff.

Mr 'Goosman’s predecessor, Mr R. Semple (Opposition, Miramar). said he ■was happy to see that more pepple were being employed by the department. Unless there was a sufficient staff of scientific and highly-skilled men the department’s work could not go on. •Mr Goosman said.that many of the apparent increases in the strength of the Works Department staff were caused by transfers from temporary ' to permanent staff. The department had about 18,000 on its staff to-day, compared with 26,000. Admittedly, the. present staff was insufficient. Mr Goosman said that applications were being invited at present-for 60 engineers from overseas, and one selector or more would go overseas to interview applicants when applications closed. Mr M. Moohan (Opposition, Petone): That is, if you get any applications. Mr Semple: I am afraid you won’t get many. Mr Goosman: At least w r e are trying. MT Moohan, asking if any engineers could be obtained from Australia to replace'some of those lost to Australia,' said that the engineers of . the Works Department had shown great loyalty' and given excellent service over many years.