BIG P.W.D. JOBS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 166, 16 July 1942, Page 6

BIG P.W.D. JOBS

WORK AFTER WAR

EXPENDITURE OF £14,000,000 (P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day. Potential employment on public works throughout New Zealand after the war is set down by engineers of the Public Works Department at 14,000 soldiers for two years, at an estimated cost of £14,000,000. The statement has been submitted to the Rehabilitation Board for consideration as part of a more extensive national scheme for the quick placement of ex-servicemen in civil occupations. The programme of public works has been prepared with a view to coping with the first rush of returned men for employment. Thus, it is estimated, that 15.000 men could be employed without delay, this toUil being gradually reduced so that, over a two-year period, an average of 14,000 would be employed. The tentative scheme covers six activities, including Departmental work. These are: Main highways improvement, £'7,150.000 and 11,046 workers; settlement roads, £1.800,000 and 3015 workers: land improvement, including irrigation, £2.000,000 and 1875 workers; flood control, £750,000 and 600 workers; railways, £1,300.000 and 570 workers; hydro-electric development, £1,000,000 and 400 workers.

Railways includes the cost of completing the Paeroa-Pokeno line and the extension of the Hutt Valley line from Waterloo to Silverstream.

The sum of £1,000,000 for hydroelectric development is mostly headworks, and additional to the yearly expenditure of well over £2,000,000.

Highways and roads covers the construction and improvement of approximately 1710 miles of roadway —1260 miles of main highways and 450 miles of settlement roads.

The Department s statement points out that the development works necessitate comprehensive surveys, and the preparation of plans at a time when the Department is understaffed, as over 20 per cent of its engineers are on active service overseas. It is suggested that if the Government decides to rely on the Public Works Department for the preparation of plans in advance, no more engineers should be allowed to leave the country. If sufficent staff to survey the proposed works cannot be obtained, it is recommended that, if circumstances permit, some of the Department's engineers should be recalled from overseas.