IS THIS ECONOMY?

NZ Truth, Issue 685, 27 July 1918, Page 3

IS THIS ECONOMY?

Dear "Truth,"— Please let me ask a few questions through your valuable paper. Why does the Minister of Public Works allow the squandering of public money? I refer to the waste which has taken place over the Kaitangata canal. The Public Works Department, instead of repairing the old flood-gates, bought two sections of ground away from the present canal to make a fresh cut m the land, as the engineering ability was evidently not of a high enough Btandard. to cope with the old canal cut. However, after sinking a cut m/ the new position ana spending probably hundreds of pounds, they found that they could not keep the water out, and had to abandon their scheme ' and design something else. Now, why all this waste of public money, especially m war-time? The engineer responsible for this scheme should take borings and find out all the necessary information he requires before launching any of his 'schemes. The work is certainly necessary, but the Minister should see that his works are m competent hands, Instead of hands which, In my opinion, are not competent.— Yours, etc., "ECONOMY AND EFFICIENCY." Balclutha.