PUBLIC WORKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 4, 6 January 1936, Page 8

PUBLIC WORKS

EFFICIENT PLANNING

MINISTER'S OBJECTIVE

A policy of efficiently-planned public works is the aim of the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple), and it is to lay a foundation for that policy that his already-announced conference of public works engineers has j been called. The conference, he stated today, was to be held early this year, and would be attended by district public works engineers from all over j New Zealand. They would discuss j the various problems that faced the Public Works Department in connection with road and railways construction and other classes of undertakings that came under the jurisdiction of the Department, with the object of getting information about various matters as they concerned individual districts, such as the number of men employed, rates of wages, and conditions generally. "We will discuss the question of how work can be extended, and we will try and reach a common understanding as to how the work shall be carried out in the future," stated the Minister. "Our idea is to get complete co-ordination and a national policy, instead of one policy for one district and one for another, and similar higgledy-piggledy methods." MODERN EQUIPMENT. Tn emphasising the need for using modern equipment in these jobs, Mr. Semple said he wanted to make it possible for his engineers to give the best that was in them, and to encourage the men to give the best that was in them. "Efficiency is going to be our slogan," he continued, "and when we provide conditions that will make for that efficiency, we will expect it and demand it. There will be no sleeping on the job. Hard work hurts no man if he is compensated for it. I know what a man can. do, and I will not ask him Ito do the impossible. But I will stand no funny business." NAPIER-GISBORNE LINE. Questioned about the Napier-Gis-bbrne railway, the Minister said that the Government, which was committed to the completion of this line, could not do very much until it got the legislation. The law at present debarred the Government from doing anything without the consent of both 1 Houses. That had to be repealed, and it was one of the first things the Government would do. "In the meantime, the Department is preparing to make a start when the gong sounds," said Mr. Semple.

Mr. Semple also mentioned his intention of seeking Cabinet's consent to calling a conference of transport interests. He pointed out that the transport business was bristling with difficulties, and it would have to be straightened out. All interests would be represented at the conference, which would not be held behind sealed doors.