TAUPIRI DRAINAGE.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18777, 27 October 1932, Page 2

TAUPIRI DRAINAGE.

RECLAMATION PROPOSAL. RELIEF OF UNEMPLOYMENT WORK. # GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS SCHEME. (Times correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Careful consideration is being given by the Government to the proposal to undertake the Tauplrl drainage and river district reclamation soheme as a relief of unemployment work, but the way Is not yet open for a commencement of the work, according to advloe Mr F. Lye, M.P., for Raglan has rooelved from the acting-Minlster of Publlo Works, Hon. C. E. Macmillan. The Minister's information was contained in a letter in reply to an inquiry as to the position made by Mr Lye. Mr Macmillan explained that the Intention was to 'carry out the work under the single men’s camp scheme of the Unemployment Board, and as a consideration the Taupirl Drainage and River Board was required to give an undertaking to provide the sum of £IO,OOO and also make the necessary financial provision for maintaining the drains when constructed and for any deepening required after the land had consolidated. The consent of the Minister of Finance was required to the work being carried out by the Minister of Publio Works as a relief of unemployment work, and in this connection a report on the reproductive and developmental aspect of the scheme was desired. This report was being furnished by the Department of Agriculture, and although it had not yet been made final it was expected that the necessary information would soon he available for the Minister of Finance. Another matter that was seriously affecting the position was the probability of sufficient men not now being available to fully man the work under the camp scheme, and, as an alternative, married men at standard rates of wages might have to be employed. Employment .of married men would substantially increase the amount of finance required, and that was a serious question from the Government’s point of view.