PUBLIC WORKS POLICY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19412, 21 August 1926, Page 10

PUBLIC WORKS POLICY.

The new Minister of Public Works gives evidence, in the Statement, he has just issued, of .taking the-, com-mon-sense and business-like view of his duties that would be expected from him. Naturally he disclaims credit, for most of the work done in the past year; naturally he pays a tribute to the achievements, of his predecessor in office. Further, he shows that if he has not had time yet to compile a record of work accomplished, he has not been slow in summing up the needs and possibilities of his department. The tone of the Statement shows the new Minister of Public Works a man who can be heartily welcomed to the office. The chief feature of the policy indicated is that of preserving continuity with what has preceded it, following • those principles laid down and proved successful in the past five or six years. No new schemes will be embarked upon .merely because they appear attractive, or seem likely to please a large number of people. There will be* careful preliminary investigation, so that before any new work is authorised there will be known not only its cost, but its probable return as an investment and its value as a factor in Dominion development. As indicating that he is seized of new conditions, the Minister emphasises that modern methods of road transport require railway projects to be (examined specially to. determine thedr chances of withstanding the | competition of motor traction.' He ; oroposes also to. continue:the present methods of suiting labour conditions to the work ;in hand. The relations of the department with local authorities will be maintained as heretofore. There will; be no to the former system of paper jgrants. Before; subsidies are:? authorised, the local body must . not only , demonstrate its needs, but; give«some < evidence of its ability- to do its p art; in employing the money to advantage Summed, up, though t the statement .'.shows no . sensatipnal ' new; departures, though there is no imposing list of great works to be put in. hand during the coming year, it is: a satisfactory document. It shows that the needs and dangers of what is really a transitional period in the development of transport—the chief preoccupation of the grasped by the Minister sufficiently to make him one' to whom '.its destinies can safely be committed, :