Australia Has Vast Public Works Plan To Alleviate Slump

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27166, 23 August 1949, Page 5

Australia Has Vast Public Works Plan To Alleviate Slump

CANBERRA, Aug. 22

If a trade recession should again occur in Australia, and unemployment result, the Commonwealth and State Governments have a programme of public works totalling £743,000.000 in reserve. This was announced by the Commonwealth Prime Minister, Mr Chifley, in his broadcast to the nation last night. “ The National Works Council is determined that if Australia is again put to the test our Governments shall not again add to the tragic waste of our greatest national asset —the daily work of our citizens.” All the plans in reserve were for genuine development projects, which would add to- the strength and efficiency of Australia's economic machine, he said. They were so arranged that they would -give employment in virtually all cities and areas of the country. , Efforts had been concentrated on making sure that all plans were increasingly brought into a condition of readiness for immediate use, and that they would not be held up by shortages of material and labour. The reserve programme was large enough to ensure confidence that if a slump hit Australia useful jobs would not run out. said Mr Chifley.