PUBLIC WORKS

Wairarapa Daily Times, 22 December 1932, Page 6

PUBLIC WORKS

STAFF REORGANISATION. WELLINGTON, 'Wednesday. Details of the economies effected and reorganisation carried out in the Public Works Department were announced by the Minister (the Rt. lion. J. G. Coates), who stated that considerable reductions in staff had already been made, but that further retrenchment was necessary. Since Ist April, 1931, the staff had been reduced by 41 per cent. Certain internal reorganisations in various branches would enable additional economies to be effected, and total reductions in staff of 50 per cent were in sight. “It has been made apparent," said Air Coates, “that on account of necessary reductions in the funds available for public works purposes, a heavy curtailment of this Department’s activities is unavoidable, and, indeed, that changed conditions have made imperative the general recasting of the whole public works organisation. The money voted by Parliament for public works for the year ending 31st Alarcli, 1930, was £5,210,717; for 1931, £5,007,779: for 1932, £6,405,405; and for the current year, ending 31st Alarcli, 1933, £3,539,027. These figures indicate the extent to which reductions have had to be made, and, of course, corresponding reductions in the personnel of the Department are also unavoidable.

In September, 1931, 761 permanent and SSI temporary officers were employed. On Ist November, 1932, these numbers had been reduced to 656 permanent and 339 temporary officers, a reduction of 105 permanent and 542 temporary officers, making a total of 647 officers. This leaves a total remaining staff in the Department of 995, and further retrenchment, now in process of arrangement, will reduce the number to 973. The position that must be recognised is that the lesser amount of work consequent on the restriction of loan money for public works does not warrant their retention. AVe must retrench. No other course is open.

“The saving already made in gross administrative costs is considerable,’’ Air Coates continued. “For 1930-31, this charge was £507,000, for 1932-33 it will be £307,000, a reduction of £200,000. A comparison with 1919-20, when the Public AVorks Department expenditure was at its lowest for the past 12 years, is illuminating. Then the Department’s staff numbered 732, and its gross expenditure was £1,612,000. At that time the Department had- not taken over the maintenance and operation of hydro-electric and irrigation schemes, which have since been completed. ’ (P. A.)