NEW BATTLESHIP DOCK

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23085, 30 July 1940, Page 7

NEW BATTLESHIP DOCK

* CONSTRUCTION BEGUN IN SYDNEY LOCAL BODIES ENGAGE IN CONTROVERSY (from oue own correspondent.) SYDNEY, July IQ. The Minister for the Interior (Senator Foil), given power by the Federal Cabinet to get the building of the £3,000,000 battleship dock in Sydney put in hand “as a matter of great urgency," acted with a celerity at variance with the previous snail-like course of the project. Within three days, the borings were being made at the selected site. This commendable instance of administrative hustle caused a regrettable controversy involving the New South Wales Government the Sydney Water Board. The board for several months has urged the Federal Government to give it the work of building the dock, claiming that it had the equipment and staff to do the necessary excavation and filling and concrete and steel work. No authority challenged this claim. Immediately Senator Foil was given the job of getting the dock built he summoned to Canberra the New South Wales Minister for Works, Mr Martin. As a result of that conference, the State Government undertook the preliminary earthworks and may do the whole job, though the Federal Govern, meht has retained the right to carry out concrete and steel work by private tender. Senator Foil said that the Water Board’s offer to construct the dock had been refused because the board, unser its charter, did not have the necessary powers. This incensed Water Board members, who turned their criticism on the State Government. The Premier, Mr Mair, admitted that his advice had influenced Senator Foil, who said that the State Government was very fair in its attitude in agreeing to do just as much or as little of the work as was required at bare cost. Mr Mair rebuked the Water Board, declaring that a state instrumentality like the board and the State Government should not compete for the work. The general view of the public i' that it does not matter who does the work, so long as this vital adjunct to Australia’s defence is made at maximum speed.