FEWER MEN ON PUBLIC WORKS

Southland Times, Issue 24356, 10 February 1941, Page 6

FEWER MEN ON PUBLIC WORKS

Mr Semple Reviews Operations NUMBER CUT DOWN TO 10,000 (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 8. An outline of the major undertakings carried out by the Public Works Department during the five years of his administration was given today by the termer Minister, the Hon. R. Semple. *1 cannot speak too highly of my officers and men and my own personal staff,’’ he said, “and I am satisfied that the loyalty and goodwill shown towards me will be extended to Mr Armstrong.” The maximum number of men during his administration was 25.000 and the number on the payroll today was under 10,000, the lowest for many years, said the Minister. Mr Armstrong would not have the job of retrenching anyone. The number would decline automatically, particularly when major works were completed. The East Coast railway from Napier to Waikokopu had been handed over to the Railways Department and the remaindir was scheduled for completion towards the end of the year. The South Island main trunk from Parnassus to Wharanui was expected to be completed in June next year, the Westport-Inangahua line in July next and the Dargaville branch line should reach the final stages in October of this year. These completion times might be put back because of lack of staff and skilled workmen and a shortage of materials, principally steel. i HIGHWAYS SYSTEM Speaking of highways he said that . one of the first moves towards improving the system had been the placing of . some 4000 miles under the direct juris- , diction of the Main Highways Board, 1 thus making the cost of maintenance ; and reconstruction a charge against the ' national funds, thereby enabling local ~ bodies to divert their funds to other works of local importance. During the past four financial years 1290 miles of new sealing, 1493 miles of reconstruction and widening and 845 miles of metalling and gravelling of highways had been completed, as well as 57,918 lineal feet of new bridges. Paved road had increased from 1G95 to 2985 miles, 26 per cent, of the highways system, over 100 level crossings had been eliminated and 3758 miles of clay road under the settlement programme had been raised to a reasonable all weather standard.

Mr Semple also gave some idea of the work carried out by the department in helping to place defence activities on a war-time footing. The buildings at Papakura covered over nine acres and the reading metalled and sealed amounted to eight miles. Similarly Waiouru and Burnham were big jobs and there were the extensions to other camps. He mentioned that more than 10 per cent, of the department’s personnel was serving in the armed forces, many in specialist engineering units organized by the department in collaboration With the army authorities. Eleven aerodromes in use by the New Zealand Air Force involved the erection of 589 separate buildings, covering nearly 2,500,000 square feet.