MINISTRY’S POLICY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 113, 12 April 1929, Page 7

MINISTRY’S POLICY.

LEARNING COUNTRY’S NEEDS.

HON. E. A. RANSOM’S STATEMENT..

“It is the intention of the present Ministry to make itself thoroughly conversant with the needs of the various districts in the Dominion, and it is for this purpose that I am at present visiting Stratford,” said Hon. E. A. Ransom (Minister of Public Works) when replying to a deputation in Taranaki. Dealing with the unemployment question, Mr Ransom expressed • the hope that the problem would not become a permanently recurring one. Responsibility for relief work rested chiefly with his department, and it was a matter he would have to face boldly and with careful forethought. He rgently had had the privilege of discussing the problem with a man who had returned from an extended visit to the Old Country. This man suggested as the solution the judicious population of the Dominion and had stated that in the British ylsles there were 400 residents to theisquare mile, while in New Zealand theife were only twelve settlers to the square mile. He ha<j not as yet had the opportunity of verifying these figures, but had ,been struck by the facilities the Dominion undoubtedly offered for properly organising land settlement to cope with the unemployment position. . . One of his desires in visiting Stratford was to ascertain the possibilities of placing more men on the railway construction works. He had been greatly interested in the progress of the line and was satisfied that the men were doing good work, while the railway was being pushed on expeditiously under the efficient control of the engineers. “It is the intention of the present Government to push on railways essential to the development of the country with the utmost expedition,” continued the Minister. “I have instructed the engineer to place as many men as can be efficiently handled on the works at and beyond Tangarakau. As soon as it is possible to drive a truck through the various tunnels the work will go ouicklv ahead to completion, and there will be no holding up for the necessary finance.”