THOUSANDS SAVED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 136, 11 June 1938, Page 7

THOUSANDS SAVED.

BY ROADING MACHINERY.

MfXISTBU'S STATEMENT,

(By Telegrapn.— Press Association.)

PAHIATUA, Friday. An illustration of how the Government had .saved the country hundreds 01 thousands of pounds through the synchronising o f manual labour with the latest roading machinery was given Ly the Minister of Public'Worke the Hon. R Semple, in addressing the argest political meeting to be held in Inlnatu.i. The address was relayed to a crowd out Sl de the hall by loudspeaker. The Minister revealed that he had refused to subsidise an excavation scheme put forward by Wellington. Ihe city engineers had estimated it would cost £.3800 to carry out the work to provide an exhibition pround. \t Ins suction however, two machines were hired from the Public Works Department, and they did the work, which was estimated to take unemployed a year to complete, in 23 davs at a cost of iJG<X). The Minister also mentioned that engineers who surveyed the. East Coast flood area estimated that it would take from six to seven months to restore, access to the marooned settlers. On receipt of this advice, Mr. Semple said, he ordered all available machinery to be put on to the job. The result wa* that the road to Wairoa was reopened for traffic, if it proceeded with caution. just five weeks after the disaster. Tiiis was a contrast with the way money had l)een wasted on public , works hitherto. The Minister's address, which was the 2Sth to be. made in two monl'is. j was listened to attentively. It was illustrated with moving pictures showing tho contrast in the method adopted on public works since the Government j took over. Mr. iSemple was later accorded a vote of thanks.