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1950 NEW ZEALAND

MINISTRY OF WORKS STATEMENT (BY THE HON. W. S. GOOSMAN, MINISTER OF WORKS)

Mr. Speaker,—■ As the Government did not take office until December last this year's reports in the main refer to works commenced during the previous Government's term of office. Such being the case it has been considered desirable that reference to those works, in so far as detailed comment is concerned, be confined to the reports which form the Appendices attached to this Statement. My personal concern is more in connection with policy, and my statement, therefore, will be confined in the main to this. Since taking control of the Ministry of Works I have endeavoured to inspect not only the major projects which so frequently come before the public through the press, but also to visit as many districts as possible and to see for myself the many works of lesser magnitude which mean so much to the districts in which they are situated. These visits have given me an excellent opportunity of examining the activities of the Ministry of Works in its various fields and inspecting works being undertaken by local bodies. These visits have further enabled me to meet representatives of numerous local authorities, interested organizations, and individuals, and to discuss with them their needs and problems in the localities in which these occur.