TEN MILLIONS TO SPEND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 186, 7 August 1936, Page 6

TEN MILLIONS TO SPEND.

An' expenditure of ten millions in a yeat on. Public Works involves, as the Hon. R. Semple, says, a full-time job for himself and his Department. His engineers have been working overtime to plan the works now approved by Cabinet, and a schedule involving £2,700,000, over lind above the £17,000,000 already approved, some of this, of course, to extend' over several years, has been passed by Cabinet. The new schedule is for the most part; concerned with roads, river protection and irrigation areas, and it has the merit that assets will be created 'as a result of the projected expenditure, which could not be said of most of the relief work of the past. So far as Auckland js concerned, the most interesting item is the construction of the ridge road in the Waitakeres. This highway will develop an area of wonderful beauty and charm at the very gateway of the city, but it will also enhance the" value of private lands in and around the hills. Many of these areas form integral parts of the great National Park which it ist proposed should* be created as Auckland's Centennial commemoration. Unless steps 'are taken without delay there will be settlement which will make the plan much more , costly.- The meeting to be held at the University on Monday night should take practical steps for 'the preservation of a scenic asset, which, in its extent and proximity lo the city has few equals in the world.