PUBLIC WORK PROGRAMME

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21827, 6 July 1936, Page 14

PUBLIC WORK PROGRAMME

THREE-YEAR PLAN

four thousand moke EMPLOYED

{taMaa uducxiTios tm.mii, ,

AUCKLAND. July A conference of Public Worta gineers, called by the Mimit® Public Works (the Hon. R. Sch in Wellington, placed before M programme of work for the nex&l years. If it were put into op«B| f n its entirety, it would cost the I eminent £17.500.000 These facts i revealed by the Minister in an a view after his arrival m Audd The Government, said Mr Semple, making a very careful invete into the various proposals, whin been made after each of the engd had combed his district for neeea and useful work. They had to p between essential and non-cam works, and to select works that« be of real value to the country. 1 did not want to make any midi and thev did not want to have te trace their steps. That care would 1 tin l6 - . , , , . Mr Semple said that already ij deal of work had been put in g The full plan had not yet been | lished. Since the scheme had hoed into operation, the number of 'i employed on public works jobs been increased from 13,000 to IB The maximum number that ooalj carried on public works was SW

‘The three-year programme m reduced,” he said, “but we may other jobs that will equalise the m of expenditure proposed." Mr Semple described as “nd less than an exhibition of pesda amounting to political insanity" previous Public Works policy, at he said, had led to the denudd the Department of practically building materials and equipaMd three railways works, which wemjj carried on by his Department. «j deal of money would have to ba< in repairing the damage that hail done. It would cost at least £H to put the Gisborne line bade the condition in which it had baa when the work was abandoned, il equipment of the Department bail sold and the lines even had boat up and the timbering removed i the tunnels. Residents had told that picks and shovels had been fla into the Duller Gorge, at ttaa <( donxnent of that job. 1