PROJECTS IN AUCKLAND

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27666, 24 May 1955, Page 12

PROJECTS IN AUCKLAND

MINISTER FORECASTS DELAY SHORTAGE OF LABOUR AND MATERIALS (New Zealand Press Association) WHAKATANE, May 29. Some of the big works projects planned for the Auckland Province would have to be delayed because labour and materials would not be available, said the Minister of Labour (Mr W. Sullivan), addressing the annual conference of Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers today. Immense pressure was being put on the Government to carry out expansion and development work throughout the country, he said. There was an enormous amount of work planned for the Auckland province, and there would be great competition for labour and materials. Among the big projects listed by Mr Sullivan were the Auckland civic building (about £1.000,000), the Auckland harbour bridge (£4,000.000 to £5,000,000, fertiliser works at Tauranga (about £1,000,000), fertiliser works at Morrinsville (about £1,000,000)), cement works at Te Kuiti (about £300,000), and a coal steam the Huntly coalfield (£10,000,000 to £12,000,000). . If all that work were added to the private building programme there would be tremendous competition for labour and materials, said the Minister. It would be certain to result in high wages and prices. “Some of it will have to be put in cold storage,” he said. “That is a problem that is on the Government’s plate, and it will have to look at it from the viewpoint of what is best for the country.”

Speaking later to the press, Mr Sulto his list of big projects the continuation of hydro-electric development on the Waikato river and the establishment of a heavy water plant at Wairakei.