PUBLIC WORKS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21103, 1 August 1938, Page 13

PUBLIC WORKS

Men and Machinery “ BEST IN EMPIRE ” By Telesraoh—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, July 30. I “The men and machinery on public ! works in New Zealand are the best i equipped in the British Empire,” said ■ the Prime Minister, the Hon. M. J. I Savage, who arrived at Christchurch |on a goodwill tour to-day. He vzas ; accompanied by the I-lon. R. Semple, | the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, and the Hon. IP. C. Webb. "The bulk of the work is ' carried out on a co-operative contract ! system. The men are earning good I wages and the State is getting good value for its expenditure. On every class of construction the men have Improved wonderfully in skill and in oi.tput of work, and now they are an army of men of whom the Nation can be proud. “It is the Intention of the Government to continue its policy of carrying out its comprehensive, yet well defined, programme of works. I cannot subscribe to the conservative doctrine that public works should be cut down in times of prosperity. The slowing down of public works invariably leads to slump. Such has been the rule in this country, and the advice to cut down and expend during depression tlrms comes ill from the very people, wno during the last economic depression, singled out the public works as the flrst of national activities to suffer. "There were 21,188 men employed on public works during May last. The related programme of improvements and additions to open lines of railways is a large one for the current year. In an effort to catch up on the shortage of waggons, locomotives and other rolling stock the year’s expenditure is estimated at £3,746,000, comprising £2,844,000 loan moneys and the balance from depreciation and renewals, reserves and revenue. Last year's net vote expenditure was £1.292,772. “Proceeding at Great Pace” “The reconstruction and improvement of main highways, together with the elimination of railway level crossings, is proceeding at a pace greater than ever before to meet the demands of the heavily increasing traffic,” he continued. “The total expenditure for the year was £4,031,728 and the expenditure of £5,037,200 is projected for the current year. “Never in the history of the Dominion have the reading problems of the country been approached as comprehensively as has been done since this Government took office and the Department’s operations on country roads for the year ended March 31, 1938, involved the expenditure of £1.126,757, and the amount required to be voted for the year ending March 31. 1939, is £1.410,600. "The construction of irrigation works is considered one of the most important developmental expenditures that can be undertaken in that it creates a permanent asset, and one that has cumulative effect on the prosperity of the country. Irrigation up to 1934 was confined to Central Otago, but extensive schemes are now in hand in the central portion of the South Island.”