CONTRACT SYSTEM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 303, 22 December 1932, Page 3

CONTRACT SYSTEM.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

In reply to an inquiry whether it was proposed to adopt as a general policy for the Public Works Department the recommendation of the National Expenditure Adjustment Commission that public works be undertaken by means of outside contract, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates stated to-day that if all works were to be carried out by private contract it would be possible to reduce the Department's staff still further, but it was difficult to see where the contract system could be used on many of the works now in progress. "It will be remembered," said Mr. Coates, "that in the past saveral of the Department's larger works have been let to outside contractors, but the results have not always been satisfactory, and the Department in several cases has had to complete the jobs with its own staff. Notwithstanding these -experiences, however, it is intended as a general policy, with the exception of present partiallycompleted works, which could not at this stage be handed over to private contractors, that future works be undertaken by public tender as far as practicable. "The contract system is already need to a considerable extent. The erection of public buildings, the construction of bridges and highways, the metalling of roads and much of the road formation are let on a contract basis, and some earthwork is done by co-operative contract, this method being necessary and particularly suitable for the unemi ployed."