The Dominion. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23,' 1920. – PROGRESS IN. DEVELOPMENT WORK

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 24, 23 October 1920, Page 8

The Dominion. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23,' 1920. - PROGRESS IN. DEVELOPMENT WORK

While it pointedly emphasisesthe serious obstacles at present raised to the prosecution and extension of development works!; the Public Works Statement submitted to Parliament by the Hon. J. G. Qoates is creditably . enterprising in tone and lays down a policy of progress from which much may be hoped as time goes on. Although it deals with the Minister's first year of public works administration", and opens with an expression of gratitude for the valuable assistance lie received during his period, of initiation and _on subsequent, occasions from his predecessor in office, Sir William Fkaseh, the Statement affords plain, proof that Mr. Coates is already' in assured touch with the exacting problems by which ho is confronted, and is bringing initiative and resource to bear upon their solution. The changes in policy and method outlined—some of them already effected—arc manifestly on right lines. The Minister deserves to be wholeheartedly supported in his general' aim of concentrating, the resources -at his command to the best advantage and in such a way- as to secure payable returns at the earliest possible date upon the expenditure of public funds in.developmental enterprise. Progress and change on these lines are the more necessary since the ■ furtherance of development work is attended at present by extraordinary difficulties. Tho amount of work carried out during the last financial year fell far short of what was desirable, but blame for this' fact cannot, fairly be attributed to the Minister ov bis Department. The scale of operations was determined not by finance, but bv the shortage of labour which is still ■ in evidence _ and to some extent by the scarcity and short supply of materials. The expenditure for the year out of the Public Works Fund was £2,021,152, as compared with £1,207,482 in 191819, and this left a balance (including unexhausted authorities) ox £1,169,502. Looking only at roads and bridges and railways, the leeway to be made up: in overtaking the_ arrears of development work which have accumulated during the war and after-war .period is indicated In the following particulars of annual expenditure during the last eight years: — Roads and bridges. Railways. 11)12-1.1 374,3-15 1,118,832 ' ■1013-M 377,461 1,101,897' 19M-15 514,430 1,140,753 .-1915-1(1 424,49-1 1,005,171 ' 1910-17 220,845 020,947. .1917-18 135,042 495,771 1918-19 220,073 387,923 •1919-20 388,562 748,049 The figures for 1919-20 show a considerable improvement upon thoso of the three preceding years, but in the most favourable view leave a vast amount of leeway to be overtaken. In normal times expenditure on road and railway construction would no doubt have risen steadily from the level attained in 1914-15, and the Dominion'is distinctly poorer to-day for the extent to which war and after-war conditions have limited the extension of road and railway communications. The position, of course, is accentuated by the settlement of some eight thousand returned soldiers on rural holdings, and it has to bo considered also (as the Minister points out) that the expenditure of a given sum to-day' will not produce by any means as great a result as in pre-war times.

The extent to which the Dominion has fallen behind in development work emphasises tho need for a really 'progressive public works policy, and as much is to be said of the increase in working costs. Mn. Coates shows himself fully alive to this need and although his outline of policy is in part anticipatory, he has already done a pood deal to put his progressive ideas into practical working shape. He points out, for- instance, that his Department is being reorganised to meet new conditions, notably in the creation of; special sections to deal with work- in defined categories. The application of new. methods to railway construction is of

particularly good promise. The allocation of a sum. of £200,000 for the purchase- of machine tools and other plant which will be concentrated on definite works in their order of importance is to be unreservedly commended. Many detail passagesof tho Statement show that tho policy of concentration is being methodically pursued and developed on railway works. The results may not at once be conspicuously apparent, but it is one of 1 the chief recommendations of this policy that it will tend increasingly to produce quick and profitable results as time goes on. In ideal, conditions no railway or other constructional work would be taken in hand without tile maximum labour force- and the maximum' equipment in plant arid machinery that could prolitably be employed upon_ it, but in view of the vote-scattering policy handed down by successive Governments it of-course would be unreasonable to oxpect these ideal conditions to be attained at a, single stride. The steps,-that have been.and are being taken to provide public works employees with comfortable living accommodation and facilities for recreation arc in every way justified and no doubt will assist materially to popularise this class of employment. There are good grounds also for the Minister's expressed belief that it will be advantageous to encourage groups of men to take np straight-out contracts, the Department providing machinery and material on charge. A remedy ought to,bo foujjSjl in this way'"not only for labour troubles, but lor much that is at fault in the methods under which public works have hitherto been carried out. Particular satisfaction will be felt at the announcement that legislation is about to bo introduced under which the Government will take over'"the main roads and, it is hoped, improvo and maintain them in accordance with modern transport requirements. The Minister does not detail his proposals tinder this head but tho essential requirements of the existing situation are met in his general statement that "the work ■will be carried out on a large scale in accordance with a definite programme and under the control 6f a well-organised staff." As a whole the Statement is welcome in trie proof and' promise it affords of a bold departure from the patchy, wasteful, and inefficient public works methods that have been too long in vogue. • The Minister's policy of concentration on definite Works in their order of importance may brihg him to some extent info conflict with the champions of parochial interest, but all who approach the question from a national standpoint will recognise" that the policy is_ sound and that in conjunction with tho free use of ' labour-saving machinery (on which the Statement lays equal emphasis) it offers the only hopeful means of enabling the Dominion to overtake wartime leeway and forward, development work in the conditions of economy and speedy'arrival at'result's which are demanded in the interests of continued prosperity.