PUBLIC WORKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 32, 6 August 1936, Page 10

PUBLIC WORKS

A NEW SCHEDULE

JOBS FOR 20,000

BIG PROGRAMME

PUKERUA BAY ROAD

An important announcement regarding the future of public works in the Dominion' was made by the Minister of Public "Works (the Hon. R. Semple) today. He stated that a second, schedule of works involving an expenditure of £2,700,000 had been approved by Cabinet, and when this, together with the first schedule, involving an expenditure of• £17,500,000, Avas put into operation, the Public Works Department would be employing approximately 20,000 men.' The maximum number that had been employed previously was 17,000. That was in 1929, which was ; th'e peak year so far as the Department was concerned. The Minister stated that the Gov 7 ernment had approved of the employment of a further 3000 men by the Public Works Department, in addition to 1600 still to be placed on the NapierGisborne, South Island Main Trunk, and Westport-Inangaluia railway construction. The works were necessary for the proper development of the Dominion, and included the provision for all-weather access by means' of metalled roads so necessary for settlers, especially dairy farmers, in outlying districts. The works, which were fairly evenly distributed over the Dominion, had been selected on account of their importance, and had bee# given preference over other works, which would be considered later, because they could be started immediately. The works would be reserved for physically fit men who were already registered as unemployed, and who would be engaged through Government labour bureaux. A WAHNING. The Minister issued a warning to men who might contemplate leaving regular employment with the intention, of going on to these or other public works, and, stated that they would not be.placed., "•■ ■ . ■■■ , . • • It was not the intention that men should leave industrial or other employment for public works, and if it was found that any had done so they would be dismissed from the works. The special works and railway construction vacancies would provide immediate employment for 4600 men, and the Minister explained that a further 1000 men would be required for metalling and a few. other works which had to be stopped during the winter and would be reopened when weather and ground conditions improved sufficiently in the spring. "As was stated in the Budget," said Mr. Semple, /'there will be an expenditure of over £10,000,000 on public •works this year. This will involve a full-time job for myself and the Department. It would -be safe to say that 20,000 men is about the. maximum ■ that the. present 'public .-works"'"staff can-carry. Thus it wilt be seen that the Public Works Department is doing its share in absorbing as many unemployed as possible.. It will be the duty of the Department to arrange for other works of national value so that men can be transferred from completed jobs to. other jobs. This will obviate any temporary unemployment of public works men. The public can rest assured that every contemplated job will be the subject of careful examination." The Minister announced that included in the second schedule was the completion of the low-level road from Plimmerton to Paekakariki. This would "!"?,£! i-« an exPenditure of about £200,000, and would employ 200 men. . A good deal of the money provided for .in the second schedule would be expended on improvements to the main highways. It -was his aim to •make the main highways a greater asset than they were today and to provide tor a greater degree of safety so far as motor traffic was concerned.! ALLOCATION OF MONEY. The allocation of the work according ! to ' Public Works districts is as follows:— _ Stratford: Roads, £86,250; main highways, £52,000; Turakina deviation, £500,000; total, £638,250; numL men to be emPloyed, 865 Wellington: Roads, £230,000; number of men, 250. ■ ■ North Auckland: Roads, £54,600-' main highways,- £20,500; total' £75,100; number of men, 365. Also 130 yS> £60' 000; num ber of men, .Auckland: Roads, £123,400; main highways, £29,000; total, £152 400----number of men,' 545. Taurariga: Main highways, £15,000----number of men, 60. ' Napier: Main highways, £10,000----number of men, 40. ' Taumarunui: Roads, £180,000; main highways, £10,000; total, £190 000----men employed, 240 *?/!nn n 3nd Mariborough: Roads, ±-14,100; men employed, 70 *?™%?™ ih: Main Wghways, £53,000; river protection, £70 000----roa'ds, £250,000; total, £373,000; men employed, 390. > fSfn^^ 1 Main highways, £?«', ™J. lmgatlon> £135,000; total, *.lbl,000; men employed, 210 f?™ 3 ™ an<? Sbuthland: 'Roads,! £.310,000; main highways, £88,500----irrigate, £390,000; total, £788,500: men employed, 890. ' Men.still to be placed on railways already authorised: Gisborne, 600Canterbury, 360; Nelson, 365; West, port 330; total, 1655; involving a grand total of men employed, 5710 and an expenditure of £2,707,350.