ROAD WORK

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10957, 4 October 1928, Page 7

ROAD WORK

"WHAT GOVERNMENT HAS DONE The Public Works Statement contains the following:— “Roadwork, both on ordinary roads and on highways, has been pushed on in an endeavour to absorb a large number of men who were unable to find-work in civil avenues of employment, and. though this has resulted in works beyig undertaken which would not otherwise have been undertaken this year, no work lias been done which could be criticised as wasteful. Every work is a work i which wiii be an advantage to the Dominion as years roll on, and I am of the opinion that it is better to employ men on useful work, even though that useful work is not imfediately necessary, rather than to face the alternative of having to pay wliat is commonly known as a ‘dole.’ 1 hoped when making my last Statement that it would not have been necessary to fake' such large provision for relief workers this year as was necessary last year. Unfortunately, the reverse lias been the case, because the ]*ical labour-market always lags to a certain extent behind, the returns from produce sent abroad; in other words, when there is a slump in receipts works then in hand are not stopped immediately, and. conversely, when owing to better prices and crops, a larger amount of" money fiow, s into the country now enterprises are not started immediately; but I am quite confident that, with the many millions of additional wealth which lias flowed into the country in the last few months, as the winter passes away avenues of employment will bs opened u.p which will enable all the relief workers -to be absorbed. Already there are indications in that direction. To give one specific instance: where one of my Engineers was authorised to place 120 relief workers on a fairly convenient work, only thirty-six men could be obtained. “Many genuine cases of hardship were met with and relieved, by the employment offered b.v my Department and other Departments, notably the Forestry 7. My Dei lartmem, however, must not be looked upon as a dumping-ground for unemployed. The large body of loyal and efficient workers who now follow: public works as a permanent occupation must be protected from being flooded out at certain periods of the year when work at other callings is short. A policy of throwing open work cn public works to all unemployed would be to the disadvantage of the State for the reason that it would mean a shortage _ of work for the regular Public Works employees. and build up in the minds of outside casual workers the idea that, work in the Department would readily be available. and tliere there whs little need to either hold down a jo-b or make preparation for possible forced idleness. “Tlie Main Highways Board, r,s in the past, has co-operated • cordially with the local bodies, with which it has such intimate contact, and. conversely, lias received loyal co-opera-tion not only from the County 7 Councils. with which it lias always had to deal, but also, with the ’ Borough Councils, which now come into the scheme of highway administration. By its system of providing free-, advice to _lo«.;l authorities concerning the quality 7 of the materials which gu to the make-up of road-surfacing, .it. has. wherever the local bodies have, been far-sighted enough' to seek its co-operation, been able.to ensure that their money i s spent in the most economical manner. Tt is hoped that more local bodies' will avail themselves of this service. The Main Highways Board, having access to the accounts and keeping a close watch on the methods used and results obtained by every local body 7 of importance, throughout New Zealand, is in a. “unique position to advise any local authority 7 or association of local authorities which desires to have the benefit of its knowledge. The f„wreaehing effect of the. new finances provided by the Motor-spirits Taxation Act is just beginning to make itself felt. and during the coming paving ser.son. extensive works in high-class .paving will be in progress around a. great irony of fhe main centres of population, and. in addi--1 ion. the County Councils and smaller boroughs /will bp able to improve 1 heb’ maintenance and at the same Dine 1- sson the actual expenditure from their own funds.”