PUBLIC WORKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 124, 25 May 1920, Page 4

PUBLIC WORKS.

In his statement at Blenheim on public works the Minister was cautious, but he said enough to give reformers reason to he eees light and is prepared to follow the gleam. He would not make promises about the South Island Main Trunk line, which, like other lines, has been creeping along for years at a snail's pace; for it seems that he means to place a list of works before Cabinet in the order of importance. If this means that works are to be carried out energetically in order of importance, Mr. Coates intends to break right away from tradition and to take "the greatest and most essential step in public works reform. It is aleo interesting to find that he means to change some of the construction methods of the Department, to replace men Jby machinery whereve/ possible. There is evidently plenty of room lor reform in this direction. "Wheelbarrow methods still continue on the northern section of the GisborneiNapier railway," eaye the "'Poverty Bay Herald" of Friday last. "A gentleman ■who visited the construction works a few days ago interested himself by watching the process with which work was being carried on on one small portion of the line. Two elderly men were engaged in removing the spoil from a cutting and spreading it along the track. One had a wheelbarrow, which he loaded and wheeled a distance of 100 yards, depositing the spoil and returning for more. The other man's job was to spread the spoil and -wait for the next barrowload.* He had a vast amount of waiting time. The incident was ilustrative of Public Works methods in New Zealand. No private employer could stain , , it; no contractor would tolerate it." It is the system, and not the officials in charge of the works, that is responsible, and doubtless no one would be better pleased than the engineers themselves if drastic' changes were introduced. The country has tolerated long enough a policy of dissipation of energy and neglect of up-to-date methods, and Mr. Coates should have universal support if he is really resolved to put an end to it.