Public Works

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27426, 12 August 1954, Page 10

Public Works

The Works Statement presented to Parliament by the Minister (Mr , Goosman) shows that the Ministry IS well justified in claiming that last t years operations constituted a record. After allowing for int creased costs, the Ministry’s expenditure of £49,009,000 last year represented 60 per cent, more work I than was done in 1946-47, since when there has been a progressive increase in public works. It is not, then, surprising that the Ministry fell short of a more ambitious target by about 12 per cent, of its vote, i As the report explains, bad weather was a contributing cause; but it is plain that the technical resources of the Ministry are under strain. The 60 per cent, increase in work in the last seven years was possible wifii an increase of only 1000 (to 14,406) in the labour force employed by the department and its contractors. This has been possible because of more effective use of machinery, and- a ; little also, perhaps, because of some decentralisation in departmental administration. Mechanical aids, how- , ever, do not do much to lighten the labours of the engineers who have to design and supervise large public works. The departmental staff of the Ministry has increased in the seven years by only 33 per cent., which hardly seems adequate for such a rapidly expanding programme of national development. The difficulty of attracting and holding promising young engineers is evidently still one of the Government’s greatest problems. Any retarding effect on inflationary capital expenditure is poor compensation for delays in bringing expensive works to the reproductive stage, or for the risks be run when skill is spread too thin over too wide a field. Fortunately, there have been no serious consequences in the post-war period of expansion, but, until the Ministry is adequately staffed, the danger is there. Very similar circumstances—a rapid increase in responsibilities and a hardpressed staff—produced the affair of the Turakfaia and Fordell tunnels. The Ministry’s engineers can take > scene pride in the success of last year’s big programme, and it may be hoped that the even bigger plans ; for the current year will not .prove ; over-optimistic. In one direction, at ■ least, the Ministry will enjoy some • relief. Although it will serve as the i agent of the National Roads Board, ' at it did of the Main Highways

Board, the new conditions of reading administration should simplify the work. The Ministry may possibly be able to make greater use of local body facilities and staff on highway work. More important, much of the supervision required under the old system will no longer be necessary, because of the assurance of the National Roads Board that it will have the money it needs for years ahead. The result should be a very much larger roading schedule at a lower administrative cost, a benefit shared by both central and local government.