PUBLIC WORKS

Marlborough Express, Volume LIIII, Issue 83, 9 April 1920, Page 6

PUBLIC WORKS

PROGRESSIVE POLIOS' ANNOUNCED.

STATEMENT BY NEWLYINSTALLED MINISTER.

People all over the Dominion should bo interested in what slight indication was given by the newlyinstalled Minister for Public Works,, the Hon. J. G. Ooates, in the first speech made by the Minister in /that capacity, which was delivered on Thursday (the day on which he assumed office) at the opening of a new section of the Auckland Main Trunk railway, which now takes the service as far as Huarau, some 90 miles from Auckland. The, Hon. Mr Coates is a native of this portion of the province, and needless to say he received an enthusiastic reception. In his speech, Mr Coates sajd that Government was pledged to a definite progressive policy of public works. There were many difficulties, but no. Government could allow- difficulties to overshadow its pledges. Having just taken over the 'portfolio of Public Works-, he could make no declaration that day. He proposed to quietly and calmly investigate the* machine behind the Minister, for obviously nothing could; be achieved unless that machine was efficient. Money was also necessary, and he hoped and believed that the Minister for Finance would place at his disposal sufficient funds to push on railways, and, in conjunction with local bodies, improve the main arterial roads. Referring to the slow progress of the North Auckland line, the Minister said: "Patience I ask you still to use, but not too much; for the more you call out the more you will be heard. The war taught us liow to combine for one purpose, and we should put this lesson into practice now. We in New Zealand must work together for one object. We must see that everyone in New Zealand has reasonable hours and reasonable conditions, so that everyone has a fair chance, and wo must all work to construct and improve our country."

Commenting on the Minister's advico as to calling out, the Herald remarks: "Had this come from the member for Kaipara, no exception could have been taken to it; but it is open to grave question whether Mr Coates here gave a good lead. It is true that under the present system of public works doles nothing is to be got without shouting, and if that By stem' is to continue the advice is good, and will have to be emphasised again and again. But it may bo permissible to hope that Mr Coates, in the course of his investigation, will see grave defects on the political as well as on the administrative side of the machine. There should be no occasion for shouting. Railways should be constructed on business principles. They should be taken through country which will yield profit in settlement, production, and railway revenue; and they should be undertaken strictly in order of their value to the cpuntry. According to that test, once begun they should be completed and brought to the point of yielding revenue as speedily as possible. No unremunerative gaps should be left, and no political clamor should be permitted! to divert the Minister from his purpose of spending the country's money to the best advantage, and no group, however numerous or noisy, should be allowed to influence the scattering of energy in a vital national interest,