PUBLIC WORKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 108, 2 November 1940, Page 8

PUBLIC WORKS

FEWER EMPLOYEES

DECLINE IN ACTIVITIES

Figures showing that the number of men employed on public works has dropped by 9371 during the past year were released by the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) last night. He said that the number now employed was 15,782, as compared with the peak figure of 25,153 at this time last year, just after the war broke out.

"The immense programme of constructing defence works occasioned by the war, such as military camps and aerodromes," said Mr. Semple, "raised the total number of workmen, including contractors' employees and local bodies' employees engaged on subsidised works, from round about the 20,000 mark in August, 1939, to over 25,000 men within a few weeks, but since then a gradual diminution of the Department's normal activities has resulted in a steady decline. in the number employed." . The following is a comparison ot the numbers of men engaged on the various classes of works m October, 1939, and October, 1940:— Oct., Oct., Class of work. 1939. 1040. Inc. Dec. Bailvvay construe _ tion .•••• -»*>»j a.iou Maintenance, operation, and construction of hydro-elec-tric schemes ... 1,442 1,9*.* »H — Main. Highways— (a) Local bodies em- . ployees l."o7 I>4jo1> 4jo • JU* (b) Departmental „ _ employees 6,52u 2,7(8 — J,<4< Koads — (a) Local bodies employees M° ■ 3-c! iß' (b) Departmental „ , 0 employees 2,006 717 - .1.049 . Land development and improvement, including small _ j farm schemes .- v'" 44& j Irrigation construction and operaton i 742 1,13» 083 —■ Public, buildings . 1,768 1.288 - s|o Aerodromes 3,040 1.032 — l,4i* i Special defence worfes 3,571 1.480 — -,«JJMiscellaneous, including Native & State housing ... ~ 25,153 15,782 1,107 10.478 HYDRO-ELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT. "As I have already mentioned," said the Minister, "this shows a net decrease of 9371 workmen, the only increases being in the case of hydroelectric schemes, irrigation, and miscellaneous works. Hydro-electric development is, of course, essential to keep pace with increasing requirements, and the continuation- of the South Canterbury irrigation construction programme is justified economically and from the viewpoint of increasing production. The item 'miscellaneous' is largely made up of work carried out on behalf of other Departments, notably Native housing, and sewerage, roading, and drainage, for the Department.of Housing• ConstrueMr. Semple added that over 3000 men were still employed on aerodrome construction and other special defence activities, but as the programme was well advanced he anticipated that most of these men would not be required in six months' time unless an emergency arose. He remarked that the Government, particularly himself, had been criticised since the outbreak of war for not curtailing its public works programme, and thereby making more men available for essential industries. "I think," said the Minister, "I have made it clear that there has been a heavy reduction, and numerous works which were justifiable in peacetime and could not be classed as urgent or productive during the war have been severely curtailed or entirely suspended, thus releasing a good type of workman for industry and the war effort.

"Though the number of men at present engaged on public works is 15,782, this figure includes 1876 on the payroll of local bodies, and 3156 employed by contractors, so that the actual number of men directly employed by the Department is only 10,750. It might be of interest to mention that the wages of approximately 2500 of these is borne by revenue, the balance being paid from the Public Works Fund," added Mr. Semple.