NELSON P.W.D.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 12 May 1945, Page 4

NELSON P.W.D.

STATUS ONLY CHANGED ACTIVITIES NOT ALTERED An assurance that the reorganisation of thfe Public Works Department, involving the elimination of the Nelson Public Works district, did not mean that Nelson would suffer in any way was given by the Minister of Works, Mr R. Semple, in a letter received lay the Waimea County Council yesterday. The Council had at its last meeting passed a resolution expressing regret at the proposed changes. The Minister’s letter was as follows: “The fact that in the reorganisation of the Public Works Department, the Nelson Public Works district will be merged with and come under the immediate control of the District Engineer, Wellington district, does not foreshadow any diminution of the activities of the department insofar as they affect the Nelson district. The department will maintain an engineer and an office in Nelson, but the officer will be responsible directly to the District Engineer, Wellington, to whom greater powers and authorities than he has previously enjoyed will be delegated, instead of to the Head Office as at present. “Re-organisation of the Public Works Department to obtain even greater efficiency in future, has been under consideration for some time past and it is considered that the proposals now made—even though they may affect the status of some districts —will achieve this.”