DRASTIC ECONOMIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21112, 20 February 1932, Page 8

DRASTIC ECONOMIES.

MEN ON PUBLIC WORKS. WHOLESALE RETRENCHMENTS GOVERNMENT LACKS FINANCE. EARLY STATEMENT EXPECTED. [bv TELEGRAPH. —PKESS association.] WELLINGTON, Friday. Predictions that drastic economies were to be carried out in Government departments, particularly in the Public Works Department, have been definitely confirmed in official circles. r lhe Government is expected to make a complete statement on the question of public works retrenchments in the near future, but in the meantime it is quite openly stated that this department's activities will be brought practically to a standstill. Lack of finance has been the immediate cause of the decision to retrench throughout the department. Practically all the major works will be either curtailed or closed Sown. One of the most important construction works affected will be the lawa I'lat railway deviation, which has been in the hands of the department for several years. A large number of men will be put off from the deviation almost immediately, and although it is not known whether the work will be stopped completely, it I will certainly be reduced to a minimum. I The argument is advanced that the Tawa | Flat deviation is several yeais ahead of : the general railway plan and that there ' is no immediate necessity to finish the ! work. This and the Stratford Main ; Trunk line, which is nearing completion, j are the only large railway construction | works in hand at the moment and it is i likely there will be » curtailment of | work on the last-named line in the near ! future. Hydro-Electric Schemes. Apart from railway construction, the ! department is engaged upon a wide range : of works throughout the country, and j these will, in almost every instance, be ! either stopped or cut down to bare esseni tials. | For several years past hydro-electric ' works have maintained a large numbei ! of men in employment, but there are only two large schemes in hand at the moment, namelv, repair work at Arapuni, which will most likely be pushed forward to completion, and the Waitaki scheme, which is designed to provide power for Canterbury. It is almost certain that the work at Waitaki wil have to be slowed down, which will mean the retrenchment of a large number of men. The Government is faced with an acute shortage of money for public works generally and it is pointed out that although j a. curtailment of work is not desired, it J will have to be brought about through | force of circumstances. Other Employment Proposed. While it is intended to reduce the | number of permanent employees of the j Public Works Department to a minimum, the rank and file will not be the only ones ; to suffer, for it is stated that executive ! officers will also be affected, i A large number of men have been i put off already and it is stated that every endeavour will be made to see that those | retrenched will not be deprived of a means of livelihood. It is hoped they will be j absorbed in other avenues, but just what | is intended in this direction lias not been i stated. '