PUBLIC WORKS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 177, 16 April 1918, Page 4

PUBLIC WORKS

LIMITED FUNDS AND FEW MEN,

A short statement was made yesterday by the Minister of Public Works (Sir William Eraser) with regard to the funds at his disposal, for works to be done. In tho ordinary course, he said, tfco I Minister of PuWio Works could add 25 per cent, to the amount of the U'tes to carry on works until June 30, but under the Act just passed it was provided that lie should add n'ne-fcrellths of to vote to carry on for tho nine months between March 31 and liecembor 31. He gave some account of the luraeys that would be available for works. In regard particularly to tho iMucauon Department, people were anxious to Know whether provision had been made for the creation of school houses. 1 hey ail knew how anxious tho Minister of Education was to provide accommodation for growing children, and these works wero necessary. Tho Minister of Education would have J37.000 unexpended of the £100,000 that had been voted. Ihore would be placed at his disposal &°W> additional, While he had coasideninle euros at hie disposal, it was not intended that he should rush oft and spend it all at once. Ho could not do so if he wished to do so: The moneys would bo spent first on the most urgent works. He wished publicly to thank tho local bodies for the-reasonable manner in which taey had met him. He hoped people would continue to Ijp moderate in their requests because men were not available to do works. He had more money at disposal than he could spend because men were not availablo to work on roads and .anW Mr'. Witty: You will do your best to go on with Otira tunnel? Tho Minister: "Yos, I will do my bes.. Ho went on to say that provision tuw made for his expending ,'" one & °" "fu votes not on the Estimates. ■ He could transfer unexpended votes from one Um to anothor work not on the n « es ,\ An honourable member asked w en, t e new Parliament Buildings would bo comThere is not fl* sggte* doubt that this will be the lart ' >™ you will sit 1n this Chamber. (»• Unless, that ie to my, you have a .s&m of Parliament in the uoxt three month*.