Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1934 PUBLIC WORKS POLICY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18529, 16 October 1934, Page 6

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1934 PUBLIC WORKS POLICY

Once again the annual statement ot the Minister of Public Works is conspicuous, not for its outline of policy, but for the indication it contains ot departmental inactivity when compared with former years. This position, of course, is due mainly to the absence of loan moneys from which funds wore principally obtained in the past, and in consequence of which no major undertakings are eontefnplated. The department, however, still remains one of the utmost importanee. as may be judged from the fact, that, last, year, on an average, it had 1 1,000 men employed on.what is described as -developmental work. More than half this number, however, were engaged on relief works control led by the department and financed through the Unemployment Board. The chief operations of the department come under four heads—railways, roads, hydro-electricity, and [irrigation. Of these, railway construetior. is entirely at a standstill, the provision of hydro electric stations is nearing completion, road work has been greatly curtailed, and irrigation is of minor importance. In the circumstances, it is not surprising that he work of the department has assumed a more or less routine character and that its annual statement has lost most of its glamor. Bv' far the outstanding feature at, the present, time is the development of hydroelectric power, in which connection the Public Works Department has an almost unique record. In a comparatively short period the principal generating stations have been brought into successful operation, and last year the Government received a gross revenue of nearly £4,500,000, the net profit being £460,000, compared with £298,000 in 1933. In addition, sinking funds and reserves have been provided and allowance made for depreciation, with the result that, for once, a department of State is financed on sound and businesslike lines. The Minister comments that at the present juncture it is not possible to consider making reductions in the charges for bulk power, but in view of the fact. that, the net profit last year was equal to more than .10 per cent of the total revenue he may find some difficulty in stifling the clamor for concessions. It is proposed this year to spend a large sum on loading improvements, and although there may still be justification for resentment at motor taxation being transferred to the consolidated fund, criticism at the actual amount available for roads is hardly warranted. There arc some people, of course, who will never bo satisfied with the condition of the roads, but it is only necessary to compare the average surface and grade of to-day with those of a few years ago to realise the progress that lias boon made. Last year the department created a record for the length of access roads formed, and the wisdom of concent rating act ivity in this direction is beyond question. More than half the men employed on public works were engaged on road const ruction, and this point, in itself, provides a fairly effective answer to critics. The policy of the Government in shutting down on railways construction requires no further comment. Unfortunately, Parliament is bound by the decisions of the Railways Board, and so long as the latter body is composed of men who cannot, or will not, realise the value of railways for developmental purposes, little hope can be held out for a change of attitude. The activity of the department in regard to irrigation is a little puzzling. Although these operations clearly should be selfsupporting, heavy losses recur year after year, yet the vote for capital expenditure is continued. There is no doubt that splendid results can be achieved by moans of irrigation, and that the work has a distinct national value, but since the immediate benefits are derived by individual landholders it is difficult to justify the continuation of a system whereby the cost is borne by the general taxpayer. Settlors in parts of Canterbury and Otago are not only having barren land made fertile through irrigation, but, in addition, arc provided with railways for the cheap haulage of fertilisers and produce, and > in both cases, a large proportion of the cost is being borne by the State, and, incidentally, by taxpayers in this district who are persistently denied any similar facilities. The injustice of State funds being provided liberally for some parts of the Dominion and denied to others is one that should not be m'rmilled to continue. The whole policy of the Public Works Department in this and other respects should be overhauled. Attention has previously been directed to the need for a long-term programme as a result, of which development, in various directions could bo spread over a period of years. As it is, vast sums of borrowed money have been made available in prosperous years, and nothing is left to ennhle work to proceed when times arc more difficult and there is a greater need than over for keeping the staff of the department in. employment. For Hie past few years the department has very

largely' depended upon unemployment funds for more or less routine work, and the time is now opportune for a reconsideration of this policy. If the work that is being carried out is necessary', then the Public Works Department should itself find the funds and thus make an important and substantial contribution, towards a reduction in the number of registered unemployed. Since the money is being spent in any case, it is largely a matter of hook entries, and the mere fact of being aide to say that more than 6000 men had been transferred from the unemployment funds to the Public. Works Department, would justify the change, in procedure.