PUBLIC WORKS

Grey River Argus, 12 June 1915, Page 3

PUBLIC WORKS

A MINISTERIAL DENIAL

A statement is being circulated by 1 jipunonts of the Government, more especially in the Taumarunui electorate, that the Government are putting men off public works needlessly. This statement was referred to the Minister of Public- Works recently.

Mr. Fraser said that it was absolutely incorrect. "It is true," he said, "that when a vote has been exhausted and where the people interested have wished me to go on spending beyond the amount of the vote. I have declined to do so, but men have not been put off 'works so long as there was money available. In seme cases the. vote, will be even exceeded, but these are all urgent works for which very little beyond the amount of the vote is required for completion. I cannot spend more money on a. road than Parliament votca, otherwise 1 would be short of- money on other works authorised. The amount of money uctually voted is equivalent to the amount of money at our disposal, and if we spend too much on one work, some other work, either in the same district or elsewhere, must go short. The best proof that public works are not being held up is in the fact that I liayo spent more money on roads during the last year than ever was spent before."