POST-WAR WORKS

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22457, 19 September 1944, Page 2

POST-WAR WORKS

DEPARTMENTAL SURVEY BASIS OF PRIORITY WELLINGTON, Tuesday It had become increasingly evident to him that the utmost attention must be given to the planning of developmental work if real and lasting benefits were to be obtained, said the Minister of Works, the Hon. R. Semple, in the public works statement presented to Parliament to-day. So far, he said, the activities of the Ministry of Works had been concerned principally with the Dominion’s defence construction programme, but the stage had been reached when attention must be given to construction proposals for the post-war period. The relative merit would be examined of all proposed works from the point of view of essentiality, with particular regard to the availability of manpower and materials, and so as to determine priorities according to national urgency and importance. Already the constructional activities of all Government departments were being investigated with a view to bringing down a long-range schedule of works, co-ordinated in every way with the ability to proceed with them. The review of constructional activities would extend to works proposed by local, authorities or private persons when such works were dependent on the Government for financial assistance or for help in obtaining the requisite material. Work For Armed Force* Figures were given by the Minister showing the magnitude of the defence construction programme car- ■* ried out by the Works Department and the Housing Construction Department for the three branches of the New Zealand forces and for United States forces from the outbreak of war up to March 31 last. These showed that the total value of the work was £36,517,486, of which £6,208,459 was for work for the United States forces, the balance being made up as follows: Army £13,989,247; Navy, £2,227,789; Air Force, £14,091,991. The Minister said that as defence .construction had tapered off it was possible to give attention to certain civil projects of particular national importance, such as the urgent need for augmenting the electric power supply, the prosecution of roading and irrigation works to assist in the efforts to increase primary production, and the essential construction of roading and other services associated with the acceleration of State housing construction. Catchment boards had been established under the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act in six major districts,. and the Minister said he hoped within the next twelve months to report the coverage of the greater part of New Zealand by catchment districts.