PUBLIC WORKS ACTIVITY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21902, 1 October 1936, Page 11

PUBLIC WORKS ACTIVITY

MORE THAN 1700 MEN ON STANDARD WAGES V UNDERTAKINGS IN THE PROVINCE . The total number of employees receiving standard wages from the Public Works Department in Canterbury is probably higher than it has ever been., At present 1709 men on standard wages are under the control of the Christchurch office of the department, this number being exclusive of the men employed by contractors on public works, such as bridge and reading contracts. The following are details of the works which the department has in hand and the numbers of men ear* ployed:— South Island Main trunk; 303. Highways: 352. Roads: 333. Ashley river control: 268. Irrigation: 313. Aerodromes: 80, Sign of the Takahe: 38. , Buildings: 13. , Miscellaneous: 9. ? i Road Improvements. General maintenance work is being done to the highways between the,Conway river and Kaikoura, the Kpwai river and Arthur’s Pass, and between Pukaki and the. Hermitage. The construction of the approaches to the Waimakariri river bridge at Bealey is nearly finished, and widening of the road between Bealey and Arthur’s Pass at present employs 51 men. Ten men are working on the preparation of approaches to the bridge to be built over Bruce creek. On the Summit highway between Evans Pass and Dyer’s Pass 111 men are employed. This job has been in progress for more than three months, and the road is being widened to 20ft with an extra width on the corners.

A work recently undertaken Is the widening of the road over Evan* Pass between Sumner and Lyttelton. Thirty-five men are employed theite, and the work is estimated to occupy six months. An undertaking in which considerable public interest Is being taken is the construction of the Lewis Pass road, which will be finished about Easter of next year. On the Canterbury side of the pass 240 men are employed. Another widening job has been In' progress for the last two months on the road between Dyer’s Pass and Gebbie’s Pass. Some of the hardest work has yet to be done-—at the Gebbie’s Pass end. The men, of whom there are 81, are now near the Sign of the Bellbird, at Kennedy’s Bush. Irrigation Projects One of the most important activities of the department in Canterbury is irrigation. Schemes are being carried out in three parts of the province, and the work is absorbing more than 300 men. The scheme at Redcliff, fed by the Waitaki river,: has been finished, but six men are still engaged th re. The scaeme in the Levels co nty, commenced 15 months ago, is being carried, out by 157 men, and early in November, it is anticipated, a permanent supply of water will be available for part of the county. The. most recent i „ • , ,✓ ■ t X

scheme undertaken by the depart- * ment l is that for the Ashburton [county. Work was begun in March, and 147 men are employed at present. - Thirty-three men are employed iri levelling operations at Wigraimaerb*' • drome, and .47 commenced work only recently oh the construction of an aerodrome at Timaru. soon * there will be bstweenSO and 719 men at work on this aerodrome, wh|oh will cost about \ ; , ■ ■ r»