NEW WORKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 185, 6 August 1936, Page 8

NEW WORKS.

STATE PROGRAMME. FURTHER 3000 MEN. ROADS AND RAILWAYS. RECORD ACTIVITY PLANNED. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. An important announcement regarding future public works in the Dominion was macl,e by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, to-day. He stated that a second schedule of works, involving an expenditure of £2,700,000, had been approved by Cabinet, and when this, together with the first schedule, involving expenditure of £17,500,000, was put into operation, the Public Works Department would be employing approximately 20,000 men. The maximum number that had been employed previously was 17,000. That was in 1929, which was the peak so far as the Department was concerned.

Hie Minister stated that the Government had approved of the employment of a further 3000 men by the Public Works Department, in addition to 1000 still to be placed on the Napier-Gisborne., the South Island Main Trunk, and the Westport-Inangahua railway construction.

J.ho proposed new works wore necessary for the proper development of the Dominion, he said, and included provision for all-weather access by means of metalled roads, which was so necessary for settlers, and. especially for dairy farmers in the outlying districts. Ihe works, which were fairly evenly distibuted over the Dominion, had been selected on account of tlieii- importance, and had been given preference over other works, which would be considered later, because they could be started immediately. The works would be reserved for physically fit men, who were already registered unemployed, and who would be engaged through the Government Labour Bureau. Warning by Minister. The Minister issued a warning to men who might contemplate leaving regular employment with the intention of going on to these or other public works, as they would not be placed. It was not the Government's intention that men should leave industrial or other employment for public works, and if it found any had done so they would be dismissed from the works. Special works and railway construction vacancies would provide immediate employment for 4000 men, added the Minister. He explained that a further 1000 men would be required for metalling, and a few other works, which had to be stopped during the winter, would be reopened when the weather and ground conditions improved sufficiently in the spring. Maximum Attainable. "As was stated in the Budget," continued Mr. Semple, "there will be an expenditure of over £10,000,000 o:i public works this year. This will involve a full-time job for myself and the Department. It will b e safe to say ti,at 20,000 men is about the maximum Ulc present Public Works staff can T J h , us !t wi " b(i eccn that tinublic Works Department is. doin«- iu share ni absorbing the unemployed. Jt will be the duty of the Department to for works of a national value as required, so that men can be transferred from completed jobs to other jobs, this will obviate any temporary unemployment of Public Works men. The public can rest assured that every contemplated job will be the subject of careful examination."

The Minister announced that included in the second schedule was the completion of the low-level road from Plimnierton to Paekakariki. This, would involve an expenditure of about £200,001) and would employ 200 men. A good clcal of the •money provided for in the second schedule \vould be expended 011 improvements to the main highways. It was his aim to make the main highways a greater asset than they were to-day*and to provide for a greater degree of safety so far as motor traffic was concerned. " Allocation of Funds. The Minister announced the allocation of funds to public works districts as follows:—

Stratford.—Roads, £56,250; main highways, £52,000; Turakina deviation, £500,000; a total of £038,250. Employment for 805 men.

Wellington.—Roads, £230,000; 250 men.

North Auckland.—Roads, £54,000; main highways, £20,500; total, £75,100; number of men 305. Also railways. £00,000; 130 men. Auckland.—Roads, £123,400; main highways, £29,000; total, £152,400; 545 men. ' Tauranga,—Main highways, £15,000: 00 men.

Napier.- —Main highways, £10,000; 40 men. Tauniarunui. —Roads, £180,000; main highways, £10,000;. to till, £100,000; 240 men. Nelson and Marlborough. —Roa<te, £141,100; 70 men. Grey mouth. —Main highways, £53,000; river protection, £70,000; roads, £250,000; total, £373,000; 390 men. Canterbury.—Main highways, £20,000; irrigation, £135,000; total, £101,000; 210 men. Otago and Southland. — Roads, £310,000; main highways, £88,500; irrigation, £390,000; total, £788,500; S9O men. Men still to be placed on railways already authorised number: Gisborne, 000; Canterbury, 300; Nelson, 305; Westport, 330; a total of 1055. The grand total of men to be employed under these grants is 5710, and the expenditure is £2,707,350,