DEFENCE FIRST

Evening Star, Issue 23371, 14 September 1939, Page 6

DEFENCE FIRST

THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME DRASTIC OVERHAUL OF ESTIMATES PROMISED MAKING TRAINING GAMPS COMFORTABLE [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 13. Although the House of Representatives passed over £15,000,000 of Public Works votes within two hours, it does not follow that all the money will bo spent for the purposes shown in the estimates. The Lender of the Opposition, Mr Hamilton, when the first item was under consideration, remarked that the estimates had obviously been prepared before the declaration of war, and the Opposition would be well within its rights if it asked the Minister to take them back for re-moulding. That, however, might not be possible as half the financial year was over, hut £15,000,000 was a huge sum to pass under the circumstances, even allowing for the fact that the votes included £2,200,000 for defence purposes. They were £2,300.000 higher than in the previous year, the Acting Leader of the House had given an undertaking all the estimates would he drastically overhauled with a view to diverting the expenditure to more urgent matters. The first of the urgent matters was defence, and while we were engaged in a life and death struggle, it was not advisable to hurry on with some of the public works. The Hon. D. G. Sullivan: Did not the Acting Prime Minister give a specific undertalking that the mere matter of these estimates going through did not mean that they would necessarily he adhered to. Mr Hamilton: Yes, he did, and this afternoon tho Government took sufficient powers to over-ride what we are doing. Another urgent matter is production of foodstuffs. The Minister should review these estimates with a view to putting emphasis on production rather than on public works. Tho Acting Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, reminded the House that he had already given an undertaking on the point raised. Every note in every class of estimates would have to be viewed in the light of developments. Money voted for certain purposes might under the stress of necessity he devoted to tho first job which ought to be done. (Hear, hear.)

A great deal of Public Works activity was for defence, and a very high authority who had seen some of this work had been so impressed that he sent a special message of congratulation to the men concerned. It would be dearly understood that money had been voted to be used partly to complete commitments which had been undertaken and which must be carried on. “But that,” continued Mr Fraser, “ docs not prevent switching over to work necessary in connection with tho defence of the country, and towards production, which may bo as important as actual defence in the final winning of the war.”

Mr that it would be a very serious matter to throw men out of work, and that, he declared, would not happen. Unfortunately, owing to regulations which had been issued, some industries had slackened off and men had been put off, but be hoped bis words would bo noted by lirms and enterprises which had received the benefit of faithful service bv their employees, and that they would not put employees off at the first stress of war.

Surely, he added, they would be able to keep their men on for a period and sec - whether their services could be utilised; because, after the first shock, abnormality might disappear. He did not say it had been general, but it was unfair to at once dispense with men, equipment, and personnel. The Public Works Department, concluded Mr Fraser, was part of the national mobilisation, and the money for public works would be devoted to national purposes. “ Wo are not wedded to any one of the public works jobs,” said the Minister, Mr Semple. If it was necessary to stop all works in the interests of tho country, that would be done, but they did not want to throw men out of jobs willy-nilly. Certain commitments had been made, and that position bad to bo faced. If young men went off the farms to join New; iSea-

land’s array other men would have to bo found to take their places. If that wore not done production would decrease. Food supplies had to be maintained, and a tremendous amount depended upon the volume of production, not only for New Zealand, but for the overseas market as well. If it was necessary to use everybody for this purWJ’JWWVAWAW'J'JW.

VAVVWNAJVV'rfVW'WVUVA pose it should be clone. While ho was of opinion that some public works now in hand were essential, ho was not tied to any one of them. Referring to the training camps being constructed, Mr Semple said men were working night and day to get them completed. The boys could not be sent into camps to contract disease. There had to be proper drainage, sewage, and waiter supplies. Above all things the men had to be kept out of

the mud. • With modern machinery it was easy to make roads expeditiously. The boys would be sent to camp from comfortable homes, and the Government would see to the best of its ability that their health was safeguarded. “ We could dump all jobs to-morrow if necessary in the interests of the country and the Empire,” he added.