PUBLIC WORKS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 18, 16 August 1928, Page 5

PUBLIC WORKS

DISTRICT OFFICE. AGITATION FOR TBANSKEK. STRATFORD TO WANGANUI. —j — In Wanganui there is dissatisfaction in regard, to the location of tli e district office of the Public Works Department at Stratford,, and there are indications that an endeavour will bo made to have it transferred to Wanganui. The Wanganui Chronicle contains the following in relation to the matter:— "An anomaly of the al sinistra* tive machine exists in the centralisation at Stratford of the actiyitias of the Public Work s Department in this district. Although Wanganui has grown into such an important centre, documents still have to pass through it, backwards and forwards between the city office and Stratford. It is not a fair thing to the branch of the Department at Wanganui, and it is hardly fair to the district engineer at Stratford, who obviously has too large a territory to handle advantageously. The work which is tbeing carrhl out from the Wanganui office concerns a wide field. Ohakune, for instance comes under the local office, and from this centre several projects of considerable magnitude are at present engaging attention. One is the opening up of the new msin highway through the centre of the North Island, giving access to Taupo and the north. On e of the vital points in successful control is personal contact with the officer in charge, and as was pointed out when a deputation waited on the Minister of Public Works recently (the Hon. K. S.. Williams) the district was at present being worked on a second-hand policy. From a business point of view, the present working is most unsatisfactory, the local office having very little authority."