THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1936 MR. SEMPLE AND WORKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22320, 18 January 1936, Page 12

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1936 MR. SEMPLE AND WORKS

Mr. Semple has yet to make a set statement on his policy, as Minister of Public Works. Since taking office he has spent little time at the official desk in Wellington. Instead he has preferred to exercise his active and practical mind by seeing jobs for himself and forming conclusions on the spot. In the process he has given a good many indications of how hi' 3 mind is working and the methods he proposes to follow. His pronouncements have been appreciated for their shrewdness, and sometimes with a chuckle of joy at their breezy vigour—with reservations as to expressions which have savoured of discourtesy to public servants. More than anything else public opinion has approved Mr. Semple's express determination to restore the spirit of honest work to public undertakings. If he can do that, raise the working morale weakened by unemployment and relief, New Zealand will be prepared to overlook a great deal, that is, if there should be any mistakes to overlook. "We expect men engaged on public works to give service," Mr. Semple has said. "We are going to see that they get a fair reward for work done, but they must do their work efficiently and well." He has no time for the "scrounger" and the "exploiter," but he will see that the "trier" gets a proper reward. Nothing could be fairer than that. And to give the men the incentive, Mr. Semple proposes to use the co-operative system. At the same time he intends to remove all trace of relief from public works. The jobs will be undertaken for their own 'sake, because the Government has decided they need doing and are worth paying for. The deadening idea of relief, of "made" works, is to be banished and that should prove to be good psychology. If, however, the men are to work efficiently, they must be given efficient tools. They cannot make much of a job with picks, shovels and wheelbarrows when they realise that the undertaking really calls for a steam navvy, a tramline and trucks. It has been argued, of course, that these labour-saving devices will never absorb the unemployed, that for this purpose it is necessary to use tools calling for the maximum of manual labour. That argument can be well supported by figures but it takes no account of several important factors, the most important being human nature. It does not put heart into a man to attack a hillside with a pick when a steam-shovel is obviously called for. Small wonder if he gets the idea that the job is not really "wanted" and acts accordingly. If the idea of using wheelbarrows is to make the work last, he can assist in a very doubtful cause. So New Zealand has evolved the relief workers' stroke and can hardly be surprised at the result —or lack of it. Mr. Semple appears to understand all that. "The Government," he says, "does not want a nation of navvies." In a mechanical age, he adds, some less antiquated,method should be made available for shifting earth than the "Irishman's motor-car." From that he goes on to talk of the provision of better engineering equipment so that men will be encouraged to give of their best. If Mr. Semple can restore the constructive spirit to public works, he will put faith and heart into many men who were steadily deteriorating, and salvage much of that human material which is the real wealth of this or any other country. Some people will' argue that to organise works efficiently and despatch them with speed must finally exhaust this particular demand for labour. They do not seem to realise that they are advocating dear and slow work. Demand is largely determined by cost, by what the country can afford. If New Zealand sees results, value for money, public opinion will readily endorse further project's. So on the technical side Mr. Semple's policy promises to be successful. More than that will be required, however. The new impulse must be well directed. That will be an important part of Mr. Semple's work as a Minister. His practical knowledge of men and of jobs is likely to be of great value, but there must be organisation and planning as well. Mr. Semple has dropped one or two hints that he is not unmindful of this part. He has a national scheme in mind and that should include more than short-range objectives and day-to-day decisions. Some of the works at present in hand or contemplated require examination in a light giving long perspectives. Works may be completed with the maximum of speed and efficiency and at the minimum cost, and yet remain as a constant liability. Mr. Semple is shortly to confer with his staff on engineering problems, and that conference should be productive of good. But there is also the economic side to be considered, and that must be the especial care of the Minister and the Government- as trustees of the public purse. Meanwhile the country can heartily approve of what Mr. Semple is trying to do for the morale of his workers. ,