The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1919. PUBLIC WORKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 October 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1919. PUBLIC WORKS.

The statement laid before the House last night by the Minister of Public "Works is not likely to create either satisfaction or surprise. The record of the work done last year is such as to indicate that the Department was almost moribund in consequence of being unable to obtain labor at its own price or steel girders for bridges at any price. Even with the return of soldiers from overseas, the Minister states that the number of men available is 1500 belo\y the pre-war mark; It would be interesting to know how the figures are arrived at, especially whether it is by means of the number of applications made for employment on public works at the' rate, of pay offered by the Department, for it must be remembered that public bodies were not allowed to pay the ruling rates of wages on work subsidised by the Government, a maximum being fixed below what good laborers could command. If this method is to continue, it is evident there will be but small progress made this year, for neither returned soldiers nor others are likely to be tempted to work for the wages offered. If the Government is in earnest over the carrying out of a Vigorous policy of public works, then it must take the only proper course that can produce the desired result, and this means a full recognition of the fact that wages, like other commodities, have risen very appreciably, and in the present state of the labor market it is foolish to expect that first-class laborers—men who give good value for their pay—can be obtained for third-class pay, and the latter are not worth considering. Last year only £522,092 was expended on new I railways, roads, and bridges, out of £976,055 provided on the Estimates. The only gleam of satisfaction that is contained in the Minister's statement is the announcement that a considerable quantity of machinery has been ordered and will Come to hand. The outstanding blot on the policy of the Public Works Department in the past has been its failure to .procure and utilise all the laborsaving devices that have been proved successful. There is no indication as to what machinery has been ordered, but it is to be hoped that the hide-bound conservatism of the past is now giving way to up-to-date methods. Meanwhile the progress of development has • suffered greatly, and settlers still have to exist under conditions which are a disgrace to the country. In the construction of new lines last year the progress was so insignificant that the Minister has to admit that no section was handed over to the Railways Department. On the Tahora section of the Stratford main trunk line only 47 miles 24 chains have been completed, except that ballasting had to be suspended because the Department closed the Mount Egmont quarries, thereby not only delaying railway work, but depriving the local J bodies of material for permanent roads. On the Heao section trial surveys have been made with the object of obtaining a more direct route from the Tangaraka to Mangatoka—a work that shows how perfunctorily the original survey was made—but it is better ' Jo bear further delay than to have

to remake the line in the future, the deviation being estimated at between 54 and 57 miles. The tunnel work at the other end appears to be proceeding at a Snail's pace, and it is in work of this kind that the latest and best machinery should be used. Last year £22,425 was spent on the eastern end of this line and £10,586 on the western, while for the current year the Estimates provide £30,000 and £25,000 respectively. On the Opunake line only £1257 was expended out ! of £20,000 voted. This practically means that scarcely any work at all was done. A similar vote is on this year's Estimates, but how much will be spent it would be unwise to conjecture. The outlook for road construction to facilitate soldier and other settlement is equally unpromising, for the Minister states that, althongh the borrowing authority has been ■increased from £IOO,OOO to £250,000, the whole authority will only be available when labor conditions improve. "When? For roads and bridges a million is provided, and the Minister states that, to have complied with all the requests, two millions would be needed, "which is absurd for the year's operations." Hydroelectric development is much on the same plane. Apparently the Department is so ovrcome by present conditions that it is unable to rise to coping therewith. What is wanted is determination, resourcf, and initiative. The old groove is worn out and there is no sign of a substitute. Probably a younger and more suitable Minister may 'find a way out of the present bog. At least, it is to be hoped he may. There is altogether £3,076,199 available for expenditure by the Department, and if put to good use it should suffice to place a very different complexion on public works offering the year.