PUBLIC WORKS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 671, 3 April 1923, Page 4

PUBLIC WORKS.

SYSTEM OF MAKING GRANTS,

NO POLITICAL BIAS.

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER,

In the course of- au address at Awakino in connection with the opening ot the Awakiho Valley toad, the Con. J. G. Coates (Minister of Public Works) tnade sonle interesting remarks regarding the policy of the department in regard to the expenditure or Public Works money. _ , In his bpinioh, he said, no political consideration should be brought into the Public Works administration. Ho had studiously endeavoured to avoid placing any item on the estimates through the political shade or colour of any district or individual. Ihc allocation of public money was a difficult matter, hut they had a system and method whereby the money voted to each engineering district was arrived at by mathematical calculation. Each engineering district was then allocated its amount by another mathematical calculation, taking into consideration the length of the road, Capacity of the districts to pay rates on the* construction and maintenance of roads, proximity of metal, general difficulties, rainfall and all other matters that affect road construction and maintenance. In some cases there were large areas from which they could not expect a great deal of rates; blit the road formed the connecting link between two important districts. The systeih might hdt be perfect, but it fairly correctly allocated the money and‘was better than the previous system. When allocated the money was handed over to, the local bodies to expend. There was thus co-ordination between the local authorities and the Public Works Department. Regarding the order of urge net, He said that every settler must first lie given access. It was Important that every man who went on the land must hare an opportunity of making good, otherwise the country would lose untold wealth. When a number of settlers in a district lost patience there must be some good cause for their grievance and they must endeavour to get behind that cause. Next, after access, settlers mutt bb .given roads to carry their produce as quickly and economically as possible to the nearest market or towii. .The Minister briefly touched on the Highways Bill. Multiplicity of local authorities did not lend itself Mo the construction of iiiaih roads, which MI realised they must have. Provision had been made in the. Bill for 6000 miles of main road, which could be added to later. He believed that in time the Highways Board, given the assistance of parliament, would eliminate the effect of multiplicity of local authorities and avoid the different standards of roads.