COLONIAL PUBLIC WORKS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 30 December 1901, Page 3

COLONIAL PUBLIC WORKS.

(PKR PRESS ASSOCIATION). Wellington, This Day. In an interview with a delegate from the settlers of Mangaweka and Taihape as to the dismissal of men employed on the railway works, the Premier said it had never been contemplated by him that “sacking” shou’dhave b en carried out in such a wholesale and indiscriminate manner. The fact was, th t for sometime past the departmental officers had been taking practically all comers on to works, with the result that is was found that the £160,000 authorised by Parliament for the Trnok railway works had been expended and £20,000 more. That being so it had been found necessary to put the brake on. The position now was that no more “sacking’’ would take place, and where it was shown an injustice had been afflicted the men would be reinstated. The Parliamentary vote and £20,000 extra having been expended, it was bis intention of spending another £20,000 extra making the amount to be spent on work £200,000 for the year instead of £160,000 sanctioned by Parliament. Public Work?. Boyne, the Railway Specialist brought from America to advise as 1 1 the Midland Railway route at Arthur’s Pass, is now in Wellington. To-morrow ho is to go to the Eimutaka incline and on Friday he leaves for Christchurch cn route for Otira Gorge,