Public Works.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 243, 30 October 1920, Page 5

Public Works.

LONG DEBATE IN HOUSE. JEALOUSY OF AUCKLAND. RAILWAY VOTES CRITICISED. [Per Press Assaclallon. I Wellington, Oct. 29. ■ Discussing the Public Works Estimates in the House to-night, Mr. W. A. Veitch complained of the unfair allocation of votes in lavour ot Auckland proiince. He cited the amount proposed to be spent on public works in road districts, and said £789,(X)() was to be voted for the Whangarei, Auckland, Tauranga, Gisborne, and Tauinurunui road districts, compared with £858,000 for the whole of the rest of New Zealand. The proposed expenditure in the same districts on the Land Settlement Account was £169,000 out >f £250,000, leaving £Bl,OOO for the balance of New Zealand. He protested that Auckland was receiving altogether too great a proportion of public expenditure. All the Ministers controlling Departments were Aucklanders, which meant that the North had far too strong an influence, which operated unfairly to the detriment of Taranaki and the southern portion of the North Island as well as the South island. He instanced the Paekakariki leviation and the Stratford-Ongarne ines as being urgent. Mr. Veitch also complained that Wanganui was not getting fair treatment in the matter of provision of hydro-electric power.

Air. T. M. Wilford .said the Public, Works Minister had ' stated that his policy would be to push on with the completion of main lines in accordance with their national importance. If any change were made Cabinet would be responsible, yet in the matter of railwav expenditure they found that of about £BOO,OOO to be spent £170,000 was to be voted for lines north of Auckland. He agreed with those who advocated the establishment of a Board of Works to decide on what public works should be undertaken, independent of political or local influences. In the matter of railway construction, he opposed the adoption of the two-foot gauge. Dr. Newman said it amused him to hear references to railway works being dropped, because he found votes were again proposed for all the same old lines. He protested that works outside favoured Auckland were not getting anvthing like, fair piny. Something should 1 be done to do away with the -'ostly Rimutaka incline. Air. R. Masters complained that tho promise of a fair allocation to Taranaki for public works had not been carried out. The Stratiord-Ongarue railway was a main trunk lino, but work on it was practically to cease. Mr. T. K. Sidey said no money was spent on railways in Otago last year. He also criticised the hydro-electric >roposa:s, which did not provide adepiately for Otago needs. Mr. G. R. Sykes added his protest o those already made t'.ie unair treatment meted out to tho rest 1 New Zealand as compared with Auckland in the matter of public expenditure. He likewise complained at the delay in undertaking the deviation of the Rimutaka line. The debate was continued by Messrs R. McCallum, V. H. Reed, 0. Mitchell D. G. Sullivan, 0. J. Hawken, R. AV. Smith, H. Atmore, T. W. Rhodes (Thames), J. Exlie, G. Hunter, S. G. Smith (Taranaki), W. T. Jennings and \V. D. Powdrell. DEBATE CONTINUED.

Continuing the debate on the Public Works Statement and Estimates after [he telegraph office closed, Mr. J. Horn put in a plea for the gold-fields in tho counties of Otago, which in the past had been tho mainstay of the country, but which are being sadly neglected now. Mr. H. M. Campbell denounced the proposal to deviate the Rimutaka line while there were so many returned soldiers with neither roads or railways. Mr. Glenn defended the Minister's policy- of concentration on main lines. Next in importance came the development of lines and roads in tho backblocks. Hon. Ngata defended the proposed expenditure in the Auckland province which was only coining into its own! The worst criticism of tho Estimates was the of responsibility the Minister was thrusting on local bodies in the matter of construction anil maintenance of roads in his district. Mr. Holland deprecated the locality fight, which had gone on during tho debate. Either the works in the Auckland province were necessary or they were not necessary. If they were necessary then the House should join together and vote the money instead of indulging in petty squabbles over parochial differences. Development should come first and the money should be spent where it was most needed.

HON. COATES REPLIES. At 3.15 lhe Minister rose to rep.y. xio deprecated the suggestion tne meiuod by which the public works money sliouid be allocated was per head of population as suggested by .di. Atmore, nis idea was to allocate it where it would give the best return and where it was most needed. The first essential to carrying on successfully the public works po.icy was to secure a capable staff of engineers, efficient organisation, and to put I men to work on a basis on which they would be satisfied and go to work cheerfully. Another factor was tho employ ment of up-to-date machinery, and ho was going to have a modern plant as soon as it was possible to get it. Discussing work in hand, he said in March next live of the lines would be completed, therefore ho would not stop them now. There wore three lines on which he intended to stop work, and three coal-mine lines would also be finished in two years’ time. That then would leave them with the North Auckland Main Trunk line, the East Coast line, Midland railway Stratford to the Main Trunk line, Orepuki, Waiau and Waikokopu branch. The completion of these lines would then become the objective of the Department, because they calculated to give tho country the best returns. It was unfortunate perhaps, that he came from Auckland, but he hoped he had a mind open enough to see matters broadly, and his only anxiety was to make the lines which promote tho greatest development and help the people to pay’ taxation to meet the country’s needs. Continuing, he gave instances of increased cost of material necessary for public works, which meant, though there was more money on the Estimates, it. did not follow’ that they were going to get more work done. Labour also was an important factor, and in order to complete his programme he required from 700 to 1000 more men within tw o years, and the Minister of Finance would require to provide three millions yearly’ to keep naee with the progress of the work. To carry out the hydro-electric works contemplated, would absorb from seventeen to twenty millions,

which will Rive some idea >' f f ho mugnitudo of tho task before them. During the recess he hoped to visit various districts and judge of the importance of the respective work on the spot. WHOLE OF VOTES PASSED. The House went into committee at 3.45 and tho whole of the votes were passed in ten minutes. Mr. Massey intimated that business to be taken to-day would be the Mining Bid, and he also hoped to introduce the Railway Bill at the afternoon sitting. The House rose at 4 a.m. till 2.30 this afternoon, it being found impossible to meet at 11 a.m., as previously arranged, owing to the late hour or rising. THE EAST COAST RAILWAY. MR. HUNTER URGES WORK. (Special to “Tribune.") Wellington. Oct. 29. Mr. G. Hunter, speaking on tho Public Works debate, strongly urged the Government to proceed- with the Na-pier-Gisborne line, which would link up two of the most important provinces in tho Dominion. He represented the opinion on the East Coast as unanimous. declaring that this work should be done, and emphasised its importance. Ho spoke with equal emphnsis in regard to the necessity for pushing on rapidly the Waikaremoana scheme. NO LINE WOULD OPEN MORE. Mr. Mitchell said there was no railway that would open up more land than the East Coast line, which should bo pushed an with at the Napier end, :>s that .end provided a link wiih outside communication.