RELIEF WORKS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 120, 24 May 1933, Page 10

RELIEF WORKS

COMPLAINT OF WASTE

ON''CRIMINAL''

, The Ilutt Biver Board was asked toiday'.to appoint a representative on a deputation which will place before the Government a list of certain works ' TVhieh the Government ia to be asked to carry out as relief works. ■, \ The chairman (Mr. F. J. Jones) said he was most disappointed with the position. A lot of time and tro.ublo - had .been, spent.by a technical committee to consider a list of works for '• the employment of men, but the list' lad : been practically ignored, and a quite inadequate list was now proposed, which would servo to employ a very few of the men. The idea of the deputation was to ask the Government to take full responsibility for the works on the list. He considered it was hardly worth while for the board to be represented. ; . . Mr. W. T. Strand said that he, tog, ■vias disappointed, but the blame was ;wholly on the local bodies, who would not co-operate to push forward a. scheme .«'£ work. ' The present works, that ■were being undertaken were a.-farce. T^he Wainui Boad was being widened, , "While at the same time a tunnel was ■being put through the hill, which would make the road useless. The expenditure jontho roads on the western hillswas not justified. The waste of money was bordering on the criminal, but it seemed nobody's job to put forward alternatives. "Works which the deputation were urging had been organised y.y>y Wellington, and would not, with one; exception,. absorb, any of the Hutt' Valley unemployed. The apathy of local Viodies was entirely responsible for the position. He had hoped, and so had Mr. Jones, to get concerted action, but nothing had been done. '■• ' , Mr. Strand considered, however, that the board should keep in touch with the question, and'on his motion.Mr. Jones was asked to, represent the board on the deputation. ■ ' '- ■ The straightening of the river at Moiling -was spoken of ~by the chairman and. Mr. Strand as an excellent work for unemployed, but this and many' other local works had been rejected by the conference. ,