OPPOSING INTERESTS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 197, 24 September 1914, Page 5

OPPOSING INTERESTS.

OUT OF WORK PROBLEM. LOCAL BODIES CONFEB. CAN'T FIND "NATIONAL" WORK. The local bodies of Christchurch seem to have arrived at a dead end in their search for public works on which to employ the unemployed. The Minister of Public Works has declined to come to their rescue with subsidies unless the local bodies contribute towards the cost of doing work of some general district interest. Each local body is willing to spend money within its own boundaries, but the Minister becomes adamantine when tire word "subsidy" is breathed.

A conference of representatives of local bodies was held in the Mayor's room this morning. The bodies represented were: —The City Council (the Mayor), Tramway Board (Mr J. A. Flesher), Waimairi County Council (Mr S. A. Staples), Drainage Board (Mr Walter Hill), Riccarton Borough (Mr J. Brown), and Heathcote County Council (Mr George Scott). At various intervals Mr J. McCombs, M.P., and Mr Dickson (Public Works Engineer) arrived, and assisted the conference. The Mayor produced the last telegram from the Minister, which stated:—

"I regret to find from your wire that there are insuperable difficulties in the way of my proposal of the 21st. I, therefore, withdraw my offer to subsidise money spent on work in one particular place, contained therein. This will leave the several local bodies free to spend their own funds as it suits them best. I was chiefly concerned'in helping to provide work for unemployed married men, and have instructed the engineer to set at work on Dyer's Pass Road married men in need of employment. These men will be able to obtain work by applying through the Labour Bureau, when the District Engineer will take them on. I have provided a sum on the Estimates for this purpose, and will thus supplement the efforts of the several local "bodies around Christchurch in the way probably more satisfactory to the parties concerned." The Mayor said that the Minister had been requested to suspend the decision not to subsidise the works of local bodies. It had been suggested that they might combine to remove the dangerous rocks on the Sumner Road, but it might be too risky. Mr Flesher said that special men would be wanted for that special work. The Mayor added that there were some prospect of £ISOO or £I6OO being subscribed for the Dyer's Pass and ZigZag Roads. That would give employment to men in all the districts.

Mr Scott said that the Dyer's Pass Road was a national work, in which all the bodies were interested. He pointed out that the lower road had been closed, and had become private freehold property. The Summit Road Association had asked for a deviation, in-order to secure an easier grade. Now there was only a narrow track, which the County thought the Association had intended to convert into a road. He estimated that it would cost £3OOO to complete the road, which would . not benefit Heathcote County. If the local bodies gave t a small subsidy,,say of 5/- in the £, the Government might complete both the Dyer's Pass and the Zig-Zag Eoads. Government might complete both the The Mayor said that neither of these works was within the city boundaries. It was not fair to compel the city to go outside, when it could not even get permission to put up electric light poles over the boundary. Dyer's Pass Road was only a tourist road, in any case.

Mr Scott: For the-city. Make a grant to the Summit Road Association for the road, and let it. approach the Government.

The Mayor said that he did not want to block the work seeing it was for the relief of the unemployed, but he felt that the city should not be obliged to go outside to do its part. Mr Staples said that the Waimairi County was prepared to spend £SOO if the Government would give £SOO. Some of the works would be gone on with, anyhow. They were useful and necessary, but were not pressing, and would ordinarily be done out of rates, and spread over a few years. He could not understand why the Government would not give the local bodies loans, which would 'require a subsidy. The Government did not want to spend any money. Mr Scott said that the Government had its task before it, just as the local bodies had.

Mr Flesher said that the Tramway BoarcJ could not do any; more than it was doing at present. ~ Mr J. McCombs, who arrived at this stage, said that the Canterbury members had asked the Minister to renew his offer. The local bodies in Invercargill had agreed oh one common work, on a road which was "no-man's road" in the country. That was the sort of work which the Minister had in his mind. The Minister would not do anything unless the local bodies could put before him a proposition of which he could approve. He would then be prepared to spend £IOOO. The Zig-zag might require £2500, and he understood that £BOO would be required for Dyer's Pass.

Mr. Scott: That would not carry the Dyer's Pass Road through. Mr McCombs said that the Lytteltou Council would, he thought, vote £4OO for the Zig-zag Road. The Automobile Association and the Carriers' Association might also be asked to subscribe. The road really ought to have been done out of the national funds, but the new proposition would, in all probability, be the best solution of the difficulty now. Mr Staples said that the Government ought to do the work, not the local bodies.

Mr McCombs: We could agree with you, but it won't do any good. Mr McCombs, in reply to the Mayor, said that the Minister had definitely turned down the works proposed by the City Council. Mr Staples said that the ratepayers wanted value in their own districts for their own funds. The Government real-, ly ought to solve the unemployed question itself.

Mr Scott repeated that the Dyer's Pass Road was a national work.

The Mayor said he could not nise that. It was only used by tourists. ■ , •>

Mr Dickson, district engineer, who came in at this stage, said that the Minister would not subsidise any of the works proposed, by the City* Council. He wanted a work of general interest to the whole community.

The Mayor said that the council had confidently expected a subsidy on the road to Victoria Park.

It was again stated definitely that

the Minister would not subsidise purely local works in various districts. Mr Staples said that it was a funny thing that the local bodies were anxious to find work for the unemployed, and were being blocked in this way. Mr Hill said that the Drainage Board could spend £250 taking a drain through the Addington Workshops, if it got a subsidy. The board could not get the subsidy. The Mayor: And the work is through Government property, and for the benefit of the Government? Mr Hill: That is so. Dyer's Pass and the Zig-zag were debated once more without result, and the conference finally adjourned until 11 a.m. to-morrow, when it is hoped the Canterbury members of Parliament will be present.