VISITORS ENTERTAINED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18862, 10 November 1924, Page 8

VISITORS ENTERTAINED.

COMMEMORATIVE BANQUET.

MINISTER REPLIES TO CRITICS.

CONTRACT WORK ADVANTAGES.

The banquet given by Sir William Armstrong, Whitworth and Co., in Tauranga Town Hall on Saturday evening, to celebrate the opening of their contract, was a banquet indeed. Hospitality of a most generous nature was offered to a large number of guests, not only representative of the Bay of Plenty, but of New Zealand. Among the guests were the Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister for Public Works, Mr. C. E. McMillan, M.P., Mr. H. Poland, M.P., Mr. N. Elmslie, British Trade Commissioner, and Mrs. Elmslie, Mr. H. D. Bennett, president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, and Mrs. Bennett, Mr. A. D. Riley, New Zealand agent for the contractors, and Mrs. Riley, and Miss Skerrett, who represented Mr. C. P. Skerrett, K.C., Mr. H. H. Sterling, second assistant general manager for railways and other departmental officials, and Mr. P. E. Cheat, president of the Auckland Railways League. An apology for absence was received from Mr. H. Horton, Auckland. Proceedings went with a swing and a number of toasts were honoured. Exclusion of Politics. Responding to the toast of his health, which was received with great enthusiasm, Mr. Coates said the Government wanted to see the contractors make a success of their job. "Grousers" against the contract system could "grouse" as long as they liked. While being urgfd about the necessity of undertaking some big works in New Zealand, the Government was being criticised for swelling the public debt by borrowing- He knowthat criticism was being levelled at those responsible for designing programmes for the development of New Zealand. So far as politics were concerned they did not influence decisions. For instance, he had no hesitation in asking "my friend on the right" (Mr. H. Poland) his views of a proposal. The day might come when the designing of public works programmes would be removed from the region of politics, but it always would be necessary for the political head of the department to put in the driving force and see that the policy was carried out. It would always remain for the one responsible to the country to take the initiative. In regard to the letting of large contracts they should judge by results. He did not mind criticism, but if they wanted works done they must allow the Minister latitude to carry out his policy. (Ap plause.) A fact to be borne in mind was that if the State embarked upon an extensive programme of, say, five {millions a year for some years, doing the work departmentally, it would be left at the end with a large amount of idle plant on its hands. That was one of the reasons why tend ers had been invited, because such firms as Sir William Armstrong, Whitworth and Co., with world-wide activities, could ship their plant elsewhere. Another poinl was that the completion by the State of a heavy programme would render idle a huge personnel. For these reasons it was a sound policy to let contracts pro vided they satisfied those making the estimates. It might be argued that con tractors made their profits by sweating their men, but the day of that kind of thing had gone. Success depended first upon getting good men—they must not forget what they owed to the rank and file, and, secondly, in keeping them by looking after them.

Construction Programme. Touching on railway improvements Mr Coates said it was sometimes complained by farmers: "The big city man has got you at last. You have forgotten thv 'cockie'." Mr. Coates went on to say how his policy of concentration on con struction works, had reduced the, number of jobs from over 30 to nine and that the number would soon be five. Since 1914 200 miles of unopened lines had been fin ished and within eight years another 400 miles would be joined up. Probably by 1932 the connected system would have 1000 more miles than in 1914, when Mr E. H. Hiley reported that inadequate tenminahj, steep grades, etc., made it im possible for the traffic to be handled effi' ciently. How much more so must thatbe to-day ? He indicated in . a general way the need for the close examination of the whole system, so that energies might be concentrated upon works which would show the highest return. The Minister for Railways might turn to the Minister for Public Works, and say, "This scheme will give a return of 5 per cent., but I can show you one that will return 17 per cent." As Minister for Railways he must see that the railways earned their own burdens and in eight years, if he was given the money, there would be no further need to bother the taxpayers. In responding to the toast drunk in his honour, Colonel Greenhough mentioned that in Major T. A. Choate and his lieutenants they had an excellent staff for the job and he mentioned that in two or three months the work would be in full swing. Mr. H. D. Bennett, who was born in the Bay of Plenty, said the district had long deserved the railway, "and," he added amid laughter, "remember it will not only give you a connection with Auckland, but also with Wellington."