PUBLIC WORKS

Evening Star, Issue 22142, 24 September 1935, Page 13

PUBLIC WORKS

SHORT RANGE SCHEME TO ABSORB 8,000 UNEMPLOYED [Per United Press Association.! WANGANUI, September 23. “ Because of the acuteness of the problem of unemployment the Government has had a committee working for some time on the planning of public works, both from the long-range point of view and /also from the viewpoint of urgency,” said the Minister of Finance (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) at the jubilee dinner of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce to-night. “The result is that the has a programme of works in addition to those already mentioned in the Budget, which would be carried out in any case. This programme lias been drawn tip with special regard to (1) the occupations of those unemployed, (2) the severity of unemployment in particular districts, (3) the, amount of, employment which a given amount of loan expenditure will provide.” Mr Coates pointed out that the tendency had been for the unemployed to congregate in the centres, and if there had been an incentive in that direction steps had to be taken to make the incentive operate in the opposite way, and the object would bo to get men into employment which was remunerative in type and nature. , The new works would include roads, drainage, irrigation, reclamation;, salvage of deteriorated lands and various other avenues of employment, including building. “This is the immediate programme,” said the Minister, “ and it has been approved by Cabinet and will be put in band at once. The long-range programme will bo so drawn up that it will fit in as far as possible with the economic conditions of the country, and the changes in the public works undertaken will be by gradual transition, so as not unduly to upset the position in the Labour market; Cabinet has also approved of an increase in the standard rate of pay on public works to 12s per day for married men in camps and 9s for single men. The Minister stated that experience had shown that it was difficult to induce men oq-sustenance to leave their homes for remunerative work, and the proposed increase in wages was to be an additional incentive to them to work in the country. He realised that when that happened the farmer would feel that he was being deprived of the means of obtaining labour as_ he bad done in the past, but it was intended to provide for him assistance in some form or another whereby he would be able to retain his labour. “ During the depression we have done our level best to assist the farmer, and alt have stood up to it'like men and women. ,Tho. wages offering have not beep. attractive, hilt the people hive’ faced the position squarely. It is .the expectation of the Government that, these measures will lead to a substantial ,iriiproyeraent in the unemployment situation,* and. about 8,000 men will be absorbed immediately.” The Minister added that,,the Government had other far-reaching policy measures being drafted. A comprehensive housing scheme was well under way, and would be brought down this session. It would require the local authority to makea housing survey to be used as the basis of a detailed programme. In ,addition, there was a universal superannuation and health insurance scheme on a contributory basis which was under consideration. The report of the committee .working on this matter Would he published shortly.