COSTLY BARROWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22353, 26 February 1936, Page 16

COSTLY BARROWS

WORK FOR MACHINES MINISTER'S INDICTMENT NEW METHODS PROMISED [by xfxegraph—own correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday "We intend to transfer burdens from the shoulders of men to the cranks of machines," declared tho Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, to a deputation from tho Patea County Council at Waverley, when the county chairman, Mr. W. G. Belton, suggested the Government might consider the purchase or the indenting of "bull-dozing" machines for county council road work. Ho promised to discuss the matter with the departmental engineers and to do something as soon as money was available from Parliament. "At present." he said whimsically, "if a mouse foil into our strongroom ho would break his neck." "I have noticed you have condemned the wheelbarrow," observed Mr. Belton, "and I wholeheartedly support your views. Our engineer, Air. J. N. Anderson, has recommended the council to purchase a caterpillar "bulldozer" on tho grounds that it will reduce by between 33 and 50 per cent the cost of clearing slips. The cost woidd be £I4OO, and this, he estimates, would be paid by the saving on two years' work. Choice of Men "The Public Works Department might buy some of these machines," suggested Mr. Belton, "and lend them to the county councils, or it might indent some and make a saving in the initial cost. The Hawera County Council has purchased one, and it is working satisfactorily." "We must be careful from now on how we choose our men," said Mr. Semple. "Many sent from the bureau in the past have been unfit for work. We do not want to put them on now and draft them out later. We want the best men—no cripples, old men and fellows waiting for pay day. We arc certainly not going to put up with that. "Wheelbarrows are antiquated, stupid and costly," he continued. "I have seen more wheelbarrows in the past four weeks than I have ever seen before. I did not think there were so many in the world. Anyway, they have to go back where they came from. It has not been the engineers' fault. They have been acting under instructions, and if they did not obey, they would have been dumped out, and doubtless they did not want that to happen." Engineer Commended "It has been costing us 5s to 6s a yard to move spoil that could bo moved for Is," said tho Minister. "Your engineer is to be commended for his foresight in suggesting tho purchase of a machine." "If the Government were to import the machines, local bodies would have to pay customs duties," stated Mr. J. Wood, acting-engineer to the Public Works Department. Mr. Belton: We have a new Government now. Mr. Semple: Wo can indent these machines. Mr. Wood: The Customs Department will not like that. Mr. Semple: The Customs Department will do what it is told. "We will help you, Mr. Belton," promised the Minister. "I will investigate your idea with the department's mechanical engineer, and if the Highways Board will not assist you, we will do it in some other way. We havo not done anything yet, because we have no money. When Parliament meets and settles the money question, wo will do something."