PUBLIC WORKS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 205, 25 May 1920, Page 7

PUBLIC WORKS

BLENHEIM NEEDS LAID BEFORE i MINISTER. . !

By TeleeranU—Press Association.' Blenheim, May 24. The Hon. 6. Coates, arrived in Blenheim to-night/ and was received by thßtf«»< Mayor and councillors. He received deputations in regard to hvdro-electrio j development, a continuous telephone ser- I .vice for Blenheim, the road from Blen-. heim to the West Coast, and' the com- j pletion of the South Island-Trunk railway. Mr. Coates, in reply, said that ; the time had come to face the problems they had to face in a businesslike way. One of the difficulties was the question of labour, whish lie was sure would be . ovorcome. A greateT difficulty was the" ) question of material.' The methods of| : j the past were out of date, and things' had to be tackled in a new way. To- 1 day it was not wiso to use a man where one could use machinery. It was neces-' j sary to get money, though that was not,' his job. . Largo orders for equipment -. . ' and material had already been given,- ; 6o tliat when the work was gone into j they would have the stuff to do the work j with.- His intention was to impress the i Government that important work should ' 'j bo done, and an endeavour made to i carry out plans in tho best and most j economical way; Referring to the request for .hydro-electric power, he said i an engineer'would come into the dis-; ,! trict in September. In regard to the ' West Coast road, ho said he would have j a report mado by his engineers. Ho\ | would also get a report in regard to i a continuous telephonic service. He'' i would .not make promises about tho' ! South Mand Trunk line, but it waa i j very desirable they should have it com- j pleted. In accordance with the import-• i ance of works asked for, they would bo placed on a list ho would lay before Cabinet, and be judged' on their merits. What they aimed at was the; opening up of the country to settlers, 1 which was a most important tiling to I consider. The South Island Main Trunk. ' lino would have his most careful con- ; sideration. He emphasised that the ! Public Works Department wtuited to be' ■ in touch with tho various local bodies; i of the country, and to have their confi-' i dence. Ho had a sclicme to settle the: vexed question of main roads. -_-If they | were going to encourage production they, would have to giye transport facilities,' j and his scheme would bring about bet-: j ter understanding in regard to these j matters. ' j