PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 August 1936, Page 3

PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME

DIS T RIC T ALLOCATIONS

[PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON. August 6

An important, announcement on the future of public works in the Dominion was made by the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple. He stated that the second schedule of works involving the expenditure of £2,700,000 had been approved by Cabinet. and when this, together with the first schedule involving the expenditure of £17,500.000, was put into operation the Public Works Department would be employing about 20,000 men.

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 he 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 any had done so they would be dismissed from the works. 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 stopped during the winter. The allocation of work, according to Public Works Department districts, is as follows: — Stratford. —Roads, £86,250; main highways, £52,000; Turakina deviation, £500,000. Total £638,250. Number of 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. Railways, £600.000. Number of men 130. Auckland —Roads, £123,400; main highways. £29.000. Total, £152.400. Number of men, 545.

Tauranga—Main highways, £15.000 Number of men, 60.

Napier—Main highways, £lO,OOO. Number of men, 40.

Taumarunui—Roads, £180,000; main highways. £lO,OOO. Total, £190,000. Number of men, 240. Nelson-Marlborough—Roads, £14,100. Number of men. 70.

Greymouth—Main highways, £53,000; river protection, £70,000; roads, £250.000. Total, £373.000. Number of men. 390.

Canterbury—Main highways, £26,000; irrigation. £135,000. Total, £161,000. Number of men 210.

Otago-Southland—Roads, £310,000; main highways, £88,500; irrigation, £390,000. Total, £788,500. Number of men. 890.

Men still to be placed on railways already authorised are: Gisborne, 600; Canterbury. 360; Nelson, 365; Westport, 330. Total. 1655. This involves a grand total of 5710 men employed for an expenditure of £2,707,350.