PUBLIC WORKS

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11929, 24 October 1919, Page 5

PUBLIC WORKS

The Horn Sir William Fraser, Minister of Public Works, presented the Public Works Statement in the House of Kepresenttaives last night. The Statement regrets that the scarcity of labour was as apparent during last financial years as it was during the previous one. It is true that as the soldiers returned to New Zealand a slight improvement in numbers of men available for my work was manifest, but that was only during February and March. Since April, however, a marked change lias taken place, but the number employed is still fully fifteen hundred below the prewar mark. Tire truth is that the manhood of the Dominion, including also the returned soldiers, has very slightly increased in numbers since the war began, as the lads who iiave passed into manhood do not much outnumber those who have been killed or maimed It is owing to this fact that only £522,092 has been expended on railways, roads and bridges out'of £9.76,055 provided on the estimates. The Minister expresses the hope, however, that the current financial year will show a marked improvement. The results from the Lake Coleridge hydro-electric undertaking continue to he iucreasiugly remunerative.

After detailing the work already carried oat iu connection with the Arapuni, Maugahao, Horahora and Waikaremoana schemes, the Minister states that statutory prvoision for the full cost of establishing these works will be made this session. He adds: In view, however, of the difficulty in procuring labour, it would be manifestly improper to pretend that such large new schemes as Waikaremoana and whatever may be decided on for the South Island could be undertaken at present. The amount available for expenditure during current year is £3,076, 199 and authority is to be asked for £6,830,000. The effect of the proposals under the head of Education Buildings will be that, in addition to the £600,000 for the present year and £750,000 for each of "the four successive years, a further sum of £450,000 will be provided out of ordinary Loan Account to discharge past liabilities and that, of the latter sum of £450,000, £350,000 is proposed to be voted in the present year, and £200,000 together with any . unexpended balance of the £250,000 to be voted in the next 'financial year. There was an expenditure of £7293 in connection with workers’ dwellings in the course of erection and other works. During the current year it is anticipated that £150,000 will be required. The Statement concludes; —

Let me say, in conclusion, that realising the very natural anxiety on the part of each section of settlers now that the war is over to have its respective roads of access and main roads completed and metalled;! have placed on my estimates sums exceeding £1,000,000 for roads and bridges alone. To have attempted to comply with sail requests would have necessitated providing over £3,000,000, which would have been absurd for one year’s operations. I have been careful to inquire as to the roads loading to and through returned soldiers’ settlements, and have endeavoured in every case to make provision for. same.