THE EASY WORK DONE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 204, 28 August 1926, Page 13

THE EASY WORK DONE.

DIFFICULT PART REMAINS. ( CLAIMS; OF ECONOMY. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day.' The easy railway construction was done in the early days, and what is left is difficult and expensive. * This was a point made by the Premier in giving a general review of Public Works operations to the House. The Premier justified the delay on several lines on the ground that, as only the difficult work was left, hundreds of thousands could be saved by prospecting every possible route. As an'instance of the value of this policy he said that two surveys undertaken ' between Xapier and Wairoa had saved £02,000 in that short length. If a railway was to cost £40,000 a mile, it might become a heavy charge on the country, instead of earning interest. • Mr. Coates justified the completion of the North Auckland lines on the ground that there were millions involved, and it was a question whether these lines should he linked up with the mam system. The commitment was there in bard cash. The Premier then went on to pay a tribute to the services of Sir Maui Poir.are in undertaking a thorough investigation of mental hospital buildings and needs. His programme was considered for two-months by Cabinet, and they found it sound. I( meant heavy land purchases, including £11,000 at Seaeliff, as well as purchases in three or four other places. The programme would be carried out, though, owing to finance, it was extended another year. It would be completed definitely, but none too soon.