PUBLIC WORKS OFFICES.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14650, 2 March 1918, Page 7

PUBLIC WORKS OFFICES.

REPORTED AMALGAMATION

A TEMPORARY ARUiNGEMENT,

n<£ P°i> t, tJ ua^ the Public Works hSM" ? le"hem- ls t0 be closed > and that Marl borough is to be attached to JNelson led to prompt action bein« f* ken M m 1 Mr R. McCaimm, M.1., w ho sent a telegram of protest received the following reply from the Minister of, Publi- Work-—••??£ amalgamation, of, the. Nelson and Blenheim, districts under the Nelson office is only temporary Owing to Mr Wiudowson« death and the calling into camp ot three, other engineers during the l->st tew months, no other course was left open, to me for. the present. If stili wore engineers are drawn from my stall similar action will be adopted ebewiiere. i. regret the necessity, Out it is quite unavoidable/ Mr MacCallum i s q nO w aging postponement of tiie decision until ziiG Minister's next visit ' CKm\ PreS? en- °f' the MarlborouglUiamber of Commerce telegraphed a^ w°v 8 the -Miniater for* Public Works:—"The member for the district ™™S™V°« propose closing local 1-i.blic Works Office, and in futureworking Marlborough district from Ne'son. My chamber strongly protests against this, and begs you v/ill at once wive reasons governing your unexpected decision." Mr Lightfoot rcceivec tire following reply from Sir Willian. Fraser: "Your wire received. There never was any intention to close tht Public Works Office at Blenheim, but. a* a temporary measure. one engineer will assume control of both, offices. If my department is requested to initiate a new scheme of river protection in the Wairau Valley then the staff at Blenheim will be considerably increased."