POLICY DEFENDED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23719, 27 July 1940, Page 13

POLICY DEFENDED

REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES NEW MILITARY WORKS ONLY FAITH IN IRRIGATION [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Friday Various activities were reviewed by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, when replying to the debate on the Public Works Statement in the House of Representative's to-day. Dealing with complaints by members of the Opposition that t-horo should be a drastic curtailment of public works, other than those purely for war purposes, the Minister said mjiny of the projects had been started long before the outbreak of war, and no new works had been started since the war, unless they were of a military nature. A considerable curtailment had been made this year in civil expenditure. Mr. Semple paid a tribute to the enterprise of the pioneers of hvdroelectric development in New Zealand, and emphasised that the possibilities in this direction in the Dominion were as groat as in any country in the world. "Could some consideration be given to the harnessing of the smaller falls so that we can disperse these schemes and render them less vulnerable?" asked Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition—Waitomo), who had advocated a greater development of hydro-elcctricitv. Mr. Semple: We have a pretty good idea of every place in the country where we can develop power. The Minister said that one of the major public works activities of the future should be the extension of irrigation. because he was satisfied that it was one of the most profitable undertakings in which it was possible to engage, as well as being an exceptionally fine method of bringing about closer settlement and paving the way for a greater population. In his opinion the Canterbury Plains and Central Otago could with irrigation feed the whole of New Zealand.

THE DAY'S BUSINESS

ESTIMATES NOT FINISHED ONE ITEM OUTSTANDING [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Friday The Public Works Statement occupied the House of Representatives for the greater part of to-day's sitting. Consideration of the statement was not completed until nearly five o'clock, but the Public Works Estimates themselves were approved in little more than half an hour, the House rising at 5.40 o'clock.

The Broadcasting Account, an item in the General Estimates not dealt with earlier in the week, did not eoine up for consideration to-dav, but is expected to be discussed next week. Other items to come before thd House next week will be the Supplementary Estimates and some bills. Two measures were introduced and read a first time shortly before the House rose this afternoon. They were the War Pensions Amendment Bill and the War Pensions Extension Bill, both dealing with aspects of service pensions and making provision for men on service abroad and at home.

The House will meet again on Tuesday. HOUSING SCHEME [BY TELEGRAI'n —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Friday "What would the Opposition do with the 12,000 men now employed if public: works were cut to a skeleton?" asked Mr. A. S. Richards? (Government — Roskill) in tho House to-day. He defended the Government's public works policy and said that much of the work requiring to be done had resulted from past neglect. Mr. Richards also spoke in support of the Government housing scheme.