PUBLIC WORKS METHODS.

Waipa Post, Volume XX, Issue 1243, 16 May 1922, Page 3

PUBLIC WORKS METHODS.

RECENT IMPROVEMENTS. Changes that have been made for improvements in public works methods of the Government were referred to by the Prime Minister in his speech at Feilding. " In the carrying through of public works," said the Premier, " very important changes have been made in the 'last two years. A large number of steam diggers and motor lorries have been imported from England. They are being used on the different public works. The number of men employed has been increased, but the works are proceeding much more expeditiously than before, and they are costing considerably less. The taxpayers are getting ibetter value for their money, and the settlers will not have to wait so long for their roads or railways or hydro-electric power. " For the swamp drainage works steam dredges have been imported, and are now at work in several places, and much of the hard and unpleasant work done by manual labour in days past is now being done by machinery. We go upon the principle that nothing should be done by hand that can possibly be done by machinery. The drainage of these large swamps in different parts has contributed in a very important degree to the increased output of dairy produce from New Zealand, and we can no longer allow such swamps as Kikurangi, the drainage of which was commenced recently, to lie idle. Land must foe found for new settlers and made available for cultivation or for pastoral purposes."