PUBLIC WORKS POLICY.

Northern Advocate, 28 January 1922, Page 4

PUBLIC WORKS POLICY.

The Minister of Public Works is probably as keenly disappointed as anyone is with the Statement that he had to present to the House of Representatives last night, though there is much in it upon which he should congratulate himself. The Hon. J. G. Coates is a young man and a young Minister, full of enthusiasm and desire for progress, and when he undertook the arduous duty of controlling the Public Works Department he set himself to perforin it theroughilv. His first Public Works Statement, delivered something more than twelve months ago, revealed him as a Minister possessing ideas and resolution. He had inherited froim his predecessors in office an inefficient and extravagant policy, the worst feature of which waiS its proneness to permit political considerations to over-rule the interests of the cooinitry in relation to the expenditure of public money upon developmental works. The iniquity of this policy was exemplified especially in the construction of railways, the Public Works Department frittering away energy and money in building numerous sections of railway line all over the Dominion. Under this policy capital was sunk in lines that seemed never to approach appreciably nearer completion, and those who directed the Department's policy apparently were quite unconcerned as to whether the lines would be profitable if they were completed. It was enough that districts clamoured for the expenditure of public money, and that the people in theso districts had votes. Mr Coates had not been long in office when he announced that this old political policy was to bo scrapped. The result, as he shows in his Statement, is that the principle he adopted has been followed, though not to the extent that he hoped it would be. The Minister, however, is to be congratulated on having brought his policy into operation and on his determination to adhere strictly to it in future. He has suspended work on a number of railway undertakings and is now concentrating on the North Auckland connection, the East Coast. Main Trunk, and the Midland line in the South Island. The Dominion apparently has seen the lxist of wasteful expenditure on unnecessary railways, at any rate while the present regime lasts, and Mr Coates certainly de-sorves the thanks of the country for his cxccllcnt services

in this respect. Moreover, he has improved the administration of the Public Works Department, and he has been very successful in expediting public works by the employment of labour-aid-ing machinery. This policy will produce still better results in the future. So far as railway construction is concerned, the Minister is working on ri<jht lines. He also has in miind now important plans for the improvement of the roads and bridges policy. There con Le no question. but that the past year or two has seen 9, very welcome change in the relations between the Public Works Department and the local bodies. The Minister ljopes to bring about further co-ordint-tiion between his Department and the local bodies, utilising the plaint and machinery of the local authorities wherever possible, and the Department's representatives arc to keep in closer touch ■with the local authorities. With improvements attained in this way, the Minister is emboldened to launch a new policy for the benefit of districts that are (backward in roading and development. They are to receive a greater proportion of the available funds trtinn better roaded and developed districts will receive. The Minister also propose** to suitable roads in districts which must be denied railway facilities, and there will probably be a good many of these districts, for Mr Coates obviously expects motor rather than railway transport to meet the needs of a large part of the Dominion. We can only say that his ideas are sound. If he can save money by cutting out unpromising railway projects, and at the same time can concentrate the roads and bridges funds upon districts that should be developed quickly, the whole country will benefit substantially. In the .matter of ways ami means it seems that the Public Works Department will soon be in a very happy position. Mr Coates lias been disappointed, as v-e have said before, by reason of his inability to obtain sufficient money during recent times, but he certainly should be better pleased in the near future. During the year ended on March 31 last the expenditure out of the P-üblic Works Fund was £3,141,197, but during the current financial year the amount proposed ,to be expended is £.1,490,080. With the amount still in hand on April 1 List and the balances available on loan authorities not fully utilised, the Minister had the sum of £3,4~>9.549 available for the present year, and a loan of live ■millions is to be raised. The current year's expenditure is estimated at £5,490,080. so that there will be a, substantial balance to carry forward. Only two months of the financial year remains, but the expenditure of the amounts which Parliament voted last night has, of course, been going on in advance of the authorisation. The funds which the Minister speaks of as being available have existed mostly on paper, the emptiness of the Treasury having handicapped the Public Works as well as other Departments. But if the loan operations are successful — and there is no reason to be pessimistic on that score —there will be plenty of money hi hand in a few months. It is impossible here to discuss the Estimates at any length, but we may say that the Department his dropped many useless votes and has apparently tried to distribute the money so that it will be spent, and spent to good purpose. This is good policy.