GOVERNMENT WORKS.

Evening Star, Issue 22631, 24 April 1937, Page 27

GOVERNMENT WORKS.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—Why is it that Christchurch is having the Treasury purse showered on it ? Before I came to Jive in Dunedin from Christchurch, that city had a relieving post office built in lower High street. Since then the post office in the Scniare has been renovated; also the State Insurance office. Now tenders are being called, or have been, for a new post office in Hereford street, all within about five or six years. In the '* Star ’ of the 17th the Minister of Railways has announced a contemplated expenditure in the South Island, with a further addition to Christchurch in the way of a new station, which is to cost £IO,OOO. That is money well spent, I agree. There is also an additional £43,000 for new buildings and plant at Addington shops. Where does Hillside come in? It appears to me as if everything is going to Christchurch, or nothing can be done unless it’s done at Addington. There is far more variety of -work done there that could bo done quite well and just as effectively at Hillside. I was in conversation with one of the heads of a department, now deceased, and he told me he had been a departmental head in all the Government Workshops, both North Island and South, and he gave the palm to the Dunedin shops for good workmanship, etc.; also he considered them the best shops for an apprentice to learn a trade in. That is convincing enough, and yet we read of so much being done at Addington. Why not open up closed departments, the doings of the Coats Government? Dunedin, wake up and get some one to pull the strings for you, and don’t wait another 20 years to get the next job done, as you did in the case of the post office. Yon will get nowhere without asking.—l am, etc, April 24, '■ Rush.,