AN EFFICIENCY TEST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18928, 31 July 1923, Page 6

AN EFFICIENCY TEST.

Only a progressive Minister of Public Works would voluntarily submit his department to' a test of its own efficiency, and the decision of Mr Coates to call for tenders for the construction of a section of the East Coast railway is as commendable as it is sensible. “One of the main objects in calling for tenders outside New Zealand," says Mr Coates in a happy phrase, “is to test out our own efficiency.” Mr Holland, Loader of the Labour Party, condemns the proposal as departing from a system that has been established in this country for 25 years. This is a peculiar objection from a quarter which rather prides itself on the possession of a monopoly of new ideas. Mr Coates simply desires to ascertain whether modern methods in railway construction correspond with departmental methods, and he is adopting the best means of procuring a practical demonstration in

tko matter. He has made uo wild assertions as to which is the cheapest and best method of construction. He has approached the matter in a perfectly fair and impartial spirit. The test will therefore be valuable, and the experience should prove eminently useful to the dominion. It is undeniable that a large proportion of the railway construction in the dominion has been unduly costly because of the use of antiquated on the one hand and because of the existence, on the other hand, of the idea that one object of railway construction was to provide employment for certain classes of cooperative workers. The latter reason, however, does not constitute a sufficient warrant for carrying on railway works. In bygone days it appeared to intelligent observers that certain public works have been regarded rather in the light of the last available job instead of being only a small part of the large developmental work of a young and growing country. During the term of office of the present Minister considerable improvements in equipment and method have been made, and it may possibly bo that the department is fairly well up to date. Nevertheless, the experiment of asking a contractor to reveal his price and his plan for constructing a railway will provide a standard by which the progress of the dominion may be measured. With so large an amount of work to be done as there is in New Zealand, it is necessary to adopt the quickest and most economical method, and this appears to be the sole aim which the Minister has in view. If the co-operative contract system as at present in force fulfils that test, there need be no fear that the Minister will discard it for a more costly alternative. If it fails, however, it should be discarded even if it has been in operation for twenty-five years or more.