NAPIER-GISBORNE ROAD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18530, 17 October 1934, Page 5

NAPIER-GISBORNE ROAD

NECESSARY WORK BUT THE WRONG- SYSTEM MR. COLEMAN’S CRITICISM (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. While supporting work that is being done in widening and improving the Xapier-Gisborne road, Mr. D. W. Coleman (Labor, Gisborne) criticised the Government for carrying out the work at unemployed rates of pay, when speaking to the public works statement in the House of Representatives last evening. He described reading work as ot national importance, and urged the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. J. Ritchener, to make it a standard public works job with standard rates of pay and conditions.

It was absolutely wrong for the Government to depend on unemployment for the necessary public works, Mr. Coleman said. The Napier-Gisbome road was a case in point. That road, and especially the section between Napier • and Wairoa, w.ns.very dangerous, and required widening and reforming. In many places, the road was so dangerous that an announcement had been made through the press that it would he limited to oneway traffic during the totir of PrinCc Henry. There could be ho complaint about the work being done on the road, Mr. Goldman said. It was very necessary, but he objected to the men on the work being paid as little as I|d to 2|d an hour. They certainly received their food in addition to that miserable pittance, but seeing that the work they were engaged on was a necessary national undertaking, the Minister should make it a proper public works job with standard wages and conditions.